€9 million of rates owed to council in 2010 still not paid

Figures released from Donegal County Council show that of the total amount of commercial rates due to the council last year, almost a third went unpaid.
Just over 16 million euro was collected by the council in 2010, however arrears carried forward to this year total close on 9 million euro.
The figures show that 6 million euro in arrears was carried over from 2009, rate demands issued for last year total just over 22 million euro.
Of the total, 2.5 million euro has been written off as unrecoverable, in most cases this was because properties, all though obliged to be charges rates, were either vacant or unoccupied.
8.9 million euro in commercial rates due in 2010 were carried over to this year.
Head of Finance with the council, Garry Martin said that the council understand the financial constraints on business and the impact that has on their ability to pay in a timely fashion.
He says the council is working proactively and positively with businesses stating many customers have entered in to payment plans in order to manage their liabilities over an extended period.