Rates rise ‘a bitter pill to swallow’ - Fay

Publican Brendan Fay has described the 10% rates rise as “a bitter pill to swallow” and has warned it will lead to more business closures. He was one of a number of local area representatives who voiced their opposition to the increase during Friday’s Budget 2025 meeting.

“I am speaking as a small business owner and the rates increase will have a negative impact on some,” said Cllr Fay.

He pointed out that, while grants and supports for small businesses were very welcome, “esb bills, insurance costs and everything else is putting enormous pressure on them”.

“Small businesses are struggling and they do need a little bit more help; it’s not handouts we are looking for and, if you look from east to west Cavan - Killeshandra, Ballyconnell, Bawnboy, Swanlinbar - there are towns and villages there now that don’t even have shops in them now because they are closed.”

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Cllr Fay went on to acknowledge the “great work” that is being done countywide on various recreational and infrastructural projects.

“I do want to acknowledge all the great work that is being done around the Shannon Pot, Burren Park and the Stairway [Cuilcagh],” he continued. “We never want to see rates going up and it is very tough. But there are going to be more and more closures.

“A town that I went to school in now has four pubs up for sale. There were 18 pubs in it at one time and in the next two years there will be two, and that is where we are at. Businesses are closing and the rates increase is a bittersweet pill because, while I appreciate the need to provide services and the importance of balancing the budget, we do need to do a little bit more for our SMEs.

“I know that decisions have to be made but it is important to understand the impact those decisions will have. How many small businesses will close between now and this time next year? This is a bitter pill to swallow but unfortunately it has to be done.”