Posted online: Jun 24th, 2009

Inishowen’s business community is to seek a meeting with Donegal County Council to demand a 50 per cent reduction in commercial and water rates, the “Inish Times” can reveal.

The move follows the setting up of a steering committee at the latest meeting of business people who are calling for the peninsula to be given special tax status because of the adverse affect the current economic downturn is having on the region.

At their first meeting on Monday last, the steering committee, made up of  business people from across the peninsula, formulated a plan of action which will see them send a deputation to the County Council looking for commercial and water rates to be halved.

It is understood the deputation will also seek “greater leniency” in the current  planning regulations.

Further meetings are also to be sought with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, and Tourism Minister, Martin Cullen.

Chairperson of the committee, Paul Bradley, said “one of the ways forward” for the region was tourism.

Mr. Bradley, a former Mayor of Buncrana, said: “We will be also looking for tax incentives in the tourism category.”

 Over 100 people attended last Thursday night’s meeting in the Plaza at which business owners and elected representatives put forward suggestions on how to go about turning around the current economic crisis in the peninsula.