A Sligo county councillor is hitting out at the local authority over not collecting rates from the owners of vacant commercial properties or shops.
Independent Councillor and election candidate Declan Bree points out that this is happening at a time when Sligo town has one of the highest levels of vacant retail and commercial properties in the country.
He added that people interested in setting up new businesses tell him that owners of vacant properties are looking for ‘astronomical’ rents.
Meanwhile, he says he finds it unacceptable that banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions and businesses who own vacant properties can get away without paying rates.
