Creche owner angry over rates

THE rates of Scooters crèche in Caltragh on the outskirts of Sligo town will double under the new valuation.

Owner Catríona Belton says she’s coming to the conclusion that the Government and County Council want all small businesses to go out of business.

Deputy Tony McLoughlin raised the issue of rating educational rooms within creches in the Dáil recently. “It is a shame that they merely quoted the letter of the law by way of reply and did not deal in any meaningful way with the points raised,” she said.

Her husband and business partner Mike Moloney says they have no problem paying rates for the ‘ wobbler’ and ‘ toddler’ rooms but their two largest rooms are Early Childhood Care and Education ( ECCE) facilities which are inspected regularly by the Department of Education.

Educational premises ( eg schools) are not rateable. “One Department says the rooms are educational and can regulate in incredible detail while another Department says that room is for profit and must be rated - it’s not fair,” he said.