Meeting told Wexford ‘unique’ in not imposing rates on charity shops

WEXFORD is unique in not imposing full commercial rates on charity shops, according to the Council’s Head of Finance Annette O’Neill.

Ms. O’Neill told a Borough Council meeting that the county is ‘out on its own’ in not imposing commercial rates on charities, particularly if they have a retail outlet on a Main Street and are competing with other shops.

‘That is something we will be discussing with the members as part of a review. The rates at the moment are only a fraction of the rent that many charity shops are paying so it’s not a case of them surviving or not surviving if they have to pay rates’, she said.

The Finance Officer was responding to concerns raised by Independent councillor David Hynes who said the issue of whether charity shops should pay rates had not yet been resolved.

‘I had a call from the St. Vincent de Paul Society and they are very worried about this. They have a second hand shop and they are worried they will be charged the full rate’, he said.

Under the current system operated by Wexford County Council, charities have to go to the Valuation Office to get a waiver to exempt them from rates.

Cllr. Hynes has said the move is causing major concern to charities who own shops as many of them had been told they still had to pay.

‘How can you compare a charity that is trying to help people by selling second hand clothes with a shop that is selling new clothing’, he asked.