Clare Fm - Podcasts

The Clare-based CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland has slammed a recent commercial rates increase an an "out-of-touch move" as businesses look ahead to 2026. A decision taken by Clare's local elected representatives in November to hike the local property tax on businesses by 8% has been widely condemned by traders. It comes at a time when many small and medium businesses are concerned about mounting costs like pension auto-enrolment which is set to kick in on January 1st. Jean McCabe of Willow in Ennis says the rates increase couldn't have come at a worse time for businesses in the county town.