Kerry County Council addressing town centre vacancy.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Purpose of the scheme
Qualifying Criteria
Exclusions
Level of Rates Incentives
Application process and Evaluation
Appeal Mechanism
Freedom of Information
GDPR
Introduction
Kerry’s town and village streetscapes are uniquely charming and reflect the county's rich cultural heritage which plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of community. It is essential to preserve the character of Kerry’s urban and rural streetscapes for future generations. As is the case with other towns and villages across the Country and internationally, town centre vacancy is an issue that can lead to negative economic and community impacts.
As part of the Councils efforts to address this, Kerry County Council is offering financial incentives in the form of a commercial rate waiver scheme. The scheme aims to encourage economic growth and bring vacant properties back into use. It is targeted at attracting businesses to the core centres of towns and villages across the county, particularly those that are newly established or expanding, and incentivises the use of vacant properties, where properties have been vacant for a continuous period of two years.
Purpose of the scheme
The scheme aims to encourage economic growth by providing financial relief in the form of a waiver of commercial rates. It is targeted at supporting businesses, particularly those that are newly established or expanding, and incentivises the use of vacant properties. This will reduce urban decline and promote the productive use of available, vacant and underutilised spaces.
The scheme will have several benefits for the local community and the local economy. It will help to:
Reinvigorate town and village centres and improve streetscapes
Increase footfall and support economic growth
Promote job creation and retention
Contribute to the social and economic development of the community
Deliver short-term and long-term town and village improvements
Enable new commercial uses and promote retail diversity
Support local SME’s and start-ups by creating new workspaces and creative spaces.
Qualifying Criteria
It is the policy of Kerry County Council to promote economic development and create a positive environment for job creation and employment sustainability. The aim of the scheme is therefore to attract a diverse range of businesses that will generate employment and improve the commercial and retail streetscape of villages and towns across the county.
The Scheme is open to:
Local Enterprise Office (LEO) clients
Enterprise Ireland clients and IDA clients
Business start-ups
Existing businesses relocating or expanding from outside the county, encouraging second site opportunities
Existing businesses maintaining their current location and expanding into a new location
Meanwhile uses – meanwhile uses refers to temporary use of vacant buildings which have no immediate plans to be permanently used. For example, if vacant property owners provide an opportunity to assist the local community/local creatives (e.g. performance, art, music, exhibitions) and the local economy (e.g. start-ups, training services, shared craft space) this will be considered for the waiver scheme. Please note, meanwhile uses may require planning permission.
The following categories of businesses would be considered under the scheme:
Business start-ups
Art galleries,
Craft and hobby shops
Fashion boutiques
Office Space (For example, a new insurance /finance office, or recruitment company, or a tech start-up)
Artisan trade shops such as cobblers, dress makers etc.
Artisan Food/Bakery / cake shops
Gift shops and craft co-ops
Cluster of start-up businesses
Vintage/thrift and sustainable clothing shops
Educational/training facility
Consideration will also be given to the number of similar shops, businesses already operating in the area, the specific needs of the area and the potential for displacement.
A. Qualifying Criteria – Applicant
The applicant must:
Be the owner or renter of the property (subject to a minimum 24-month lease)
Engage with Kerry County Council’s pre application advisory services
The applicant must have discharged any outstanding local authority charges payable by them.
Must be fully tax compliant and provide a current tax clearance certificate
Must be satisfied that the property is in a good state of repair and that all health and safety, building and planning requirements and permissions are in place.
Cannot apply retrospectively to the Scheme.
Qualifying Criteria – Property
Vacancy status – the property must be an existing rateable property in a town or village that has been vacant for a continuous period of 2 years.
The property must be located in a key town, regional town, district town or village as outlined in the Core and Settlement Strategy in the County Development Plan 2022-2028.
The annual rates liability must not exceed €20,000.
Use of property – the proposed business must be consistent with the planning permission of the property.
Exclusions
Maintaining the health of town and village centres requires diversity in the services on offer. A wide variety of different functions in towns and village centres is a key element in ensuring the ongoing vitality of an area. This vitality can be threatened by an overconcentration of one particular type of outlet. In line with the objectives of the County Development Plan and to prevent an over-supply or dominance of certain retail outlets, the following types of businesses are not covered by the scheme*:
Fast food/takeaways
Casinos/Arcades/Betting Offices
Vape/e-cigarette shops
Mobile phone repair shops
Discount stores
Off licences
Applicants must not be vacating a premises in another part of the county to avail of the incentive
Level of Rates Incentives
The waiver rate for occupation of vacant commercial premises is a reduction in the annual commercial rates liability on a sliding scale as follows:
Waiver Rates
End of year 1
100% of rates waived
End of year 2
50% of rates waived
End of year 3
20% of rates waived
Year 4 +
0% of rates waived
Application process and Evaluation
Application Forms are to be completed and submitted online. All applications will be assessed under the above qualifying criteria. Only fully completed applications will be assessed.
Waivers awarded will be further subject to the availability of the necessary funds for this scheme.
The Scheme is subject to review and amendments.
Appeal Mechanism
Should an applicant wish to appeal a decision, they may outline the basis for their appeal in writing with supporting evidence and address it to Kerry County Council, County Buildings, Rathass, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
Freedom of Information
Applicants should note that under the Freedom of Information Act, 2014, information provided by them in their application maybe liable to be disclosed. Applicants are asked to consider if any of the information supplied by them in their application should not be disclosed because of its confidentiality or commercial sensitivity. If applicants consider that certain information should not be disclosed due to confidentiality or commercial sensitivity, they must clearly identify such information and specify the reasons why it is confidential or commercially sensitive. Any information not identified as confidential or commercially sensitive is liable to be released in response to a Freedom of Information request without further notice to the applicant. Kerry County Council will, where possible, consult with applicants about confidential or commercially sensitive information so identified before deciding on a request received under the Freedom of Information Act.
GDPR
All personal data collected is in compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2016 and the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018. Please refer to the Kerry County Council Privacy Notice which is available to view at www.kerrycoco.ie/home3/data-protection-gdpr/
Commercial Rates Waiver Scheme 2026
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Kerry County Council
Commercial Rates Waiver Scheme 2026
Kerry County Council addressing town centre vacancy.
Table of Contents
Kerry’s town and village streetscapes are uniquely charming and reflect the county's rich cultural heritage which plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of community. It is essential to preserve the character of Kerry’s urban and rural streetscapes for future generations. As is the case with other towns and villages across the Country and internationally, town centre vacancy is an issue that can lead to negative economic and community impacts.
As part of the Councils efforts to address this, Kerry County Council is offering financial incentives in the form of a commercial rate waiver scheme. The scheme aims to encourage economic growth and bring vacant properties back into use. It is targeted at attracting businesses to the core centres of towns and villages across the county, particularly those that are newly established or expanding, and incentivises the use of vacant properties, where properties have been vacant for a continuous period of two years.
The scheme aims to encourage economic growth by providing financial relief in the form of a waiver of commercial rates. It is targeted at supporting businesses, particularly those that are newly established or expanding, and incentivises the use of vacant properties. This will reduce urban decline and promote the productive use of available, vacant and underutilised spaces.
The scheme will have several benefits for the local community and the local economy. It will help to:
It is the policy of Kerry County Council to promote economic development and create a positive environment for job creation and employment sustainability. The aim of the scheme is therefore to attract a diverse range of businesses that will generate employment and improve the commercial and retail streetscape of villages and towns across the county.
The Scheme is open to:
The following categories of businesses would be considered under the scheme:
Consideration will also be given to the number of similar shops, businesses already operating in the area, the specific needs of the area and the potential for displacement.
A. Qualifying Criteria – Applicant
The applicant must:
Qualifying Criteria – Property
The waiver rate for occupation of vacant commercial premises is a reduction in the annual commercial rates liability on a sliding scale as follows:
Waiver Rates
End of year 1
100% of rates waived
End of year 2
50% of rates waived
End of year 3
20% of rates waived
Year 4 +
0% of rates waived
Application Forms are to be completed and submitted online. All applications will be assessed under the above qualifying criteria. Only fully completed applications will be assessed.
Waivers awarded will be further subject to the availability of the necessary funds for this scheme.
The Scheme is subject to review and amendments.
Should an applicant wish to appeal a decision, they may outline the basis for their appeal in writing with supporting evidence and address it to Kerry County Council, County Buildings, Rathass, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
Applicants should note that under the Freedom of Information Act, 2014, information provided by them in their application maybe liable to be disclosed. Applicants are asked to consider if any of the information supplied by them in their application should not be disclosed because of its confidentiality or commercial sensitivity. If applicants consider that certain information should not be disclosed due to confidentiality or commercial sensitivity, they must clearly identify such information and specify the reasons why it is confidential or commercially sensitive. Any information not identified as confidential or commercially sensitive is liable to be released in response to a Freedom of Information request without further notice to the applicant. Kerry County Council will, where possible, consult with applicants about confidential or commercially sensitive information so identified before deciding on a request received under the Freedom of Information Act.
All personal data collected is in compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2016 and the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018. Please refer to the Kerry County Council Privacy Notice which is available to view at www.kerrycoco.ie/home3/data-protection-gdpr/
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