Sports clubs in Laois should be exempt from paying rates says councillor

A MOTION proposed by cllr Paschal McEvoy at the October meeting of Laois County Council calling on the Government to consider exempting sport clubs in Laois from paying rates was unanimously supported by his fellow councillors.

Cllr McEvoy said: “A number of years ago there was a review of rates countrywide. GAA county boards came in under that and we were rated €32,000 a year. While we (Laois GAA) got a reduction on that from Laois County Council , we’re still paying rates on an annual basis.

“While I accept if a club has a bar and that type of an income you should pay rates. But everything that comes in, goes back out improving the facilities for the general public. While we might show a profit, we could show a massive deficit the following year.

“Over the past few years we’ve developed massively, but still haven’t got enough room up there (Laois Hire O’Moore Park) and we’re coming into integration that will fully happen, I’d say in five years, with camogie and Ladies GAA. For that to work in Laois we need to get more land and we’re on the lookout the whole time to get more land.” 

He said: “We have to provide most of our funding through our own income from gate and different fundraising. A county board draw brings in over €100,000 every year. We’re fundraising to pay rates. But, we’re not a business. We’re a voluntary organisation proving sport facilities for the whole county.” 

Cllr McEvoy who is the treasurer on the Executive Committee of the Laois GAA County Board said: “When there’s a big match up there (Laois Hire O’Moore Park) and if there’s 20,000 people come in through the gates we get 15% of the takings. The rest of the money goes back to central government. But how many hotel beds are taken out in and around the town that weekend? How many pubs are restaurants are full for the whole weekend as well?

“We’re fundraising to pay rates as well as trying to get facilities for everybody to be happy playing GAA, camogie and Ladies football. There may be something in the Finance Bill shortly in relation to this.” 

Cllr Aisling Moran said that Croke Park is bringing in a massive income from hosting major concerts.

She said: “There’s a lot of small businesses that are on their knees and amount that have closed because of VAT and rates. Many are on their knees and trying to stay afloat.” 

She agreed that local sports clubs, such as handball, tennis, soccer as well as GAA clubs in Laois that provide facilities to train should be exempt from paying rates , but “a business like Croke Park that’s making a massive turnover and yearly profits, it would be very unfair they have no rates and small businesses across the road are struggle to survive.” 

Cllr McEvoy said: “If we didn’t have our fundraisers every year we’d be running a massive deficit. The county board draw tickets are €130 and that puts €750,000 into local clubs as well. Some clubs make €40,000 or €50,000 a year out of that draw.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan agreed with cllr McEvoy and said: “Any local club or voluntary organisation is so hard on the fundraising side of things.”