Author: laois finance

** Last Chance To Register **

The portal for the Increased Cost of Business Grant (ICOB) has re-opened for new submissions from noon 15th May until midnight 29th May 2024. Register now at ICOB

Commercial Rate customers will have previously received a letter with their customer number and pin which is required to access the portal.

Further information and guidance is available here. You should refer to this guidance and FAQ prior to making your submission.

Eligible businesses will receive a grant payment. The amount of the grant payable to eligible businesses is based on the value of the Commercial Rates bill the business received in 2023.

If you have any queries regarding your Commercial Rates account including outstanding balances, contact Laois County Council at 05786 89367 and/or rates@laoiscoco.ie. Our team are happy to discuss any balances outstanding on your rates and what steps can be taken to ensure compliance with the scheme.

The ICOB Scheme may be of assistance to your Business – Eligible Businesses will receive a once-off grant payment – Based on the value of the 2023 Commercial Rates Bill for the property your business occupies. This is not a Commercial Rates Waiver and you must continue to pay your Commercial Rates bill as normal. Your business must be Rates Compliant. Businesses in performing approved payment plans may be deemed to be compliant. Register today by logging on to icob.ie with the details sent to you by Laois County Council.

 

The deadline for Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant registration is fast approaching!  Businesses have until May 1st to register on the ICOB Portal at icob.ie. Eligibility Criteria: Make sure to check the portal for the criteria and see if your business qualifies. Don’t miss out on this vital support for small and medium businesses! Act Now: Register as soon as possible to avail of this grant. Payments will commence from late April 2024. Visit icob.ie for more information.

 

**** Registration now open for ICOB scheme****

Click to register ICOB

As part of Budget 2024, the Government signed off on a package of €257m for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) Grant as a vital measure for small and medium businesses. Laois County Council, funded through Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), will manage the rollout of the grant to qualifying businesses.

Eligible businesses will receive a once-off grant payment. The amount of the grant payable to eligible businesses is based on the value of the Commercial Rates bill the business received in 2023. However, it is not a Commercial Rates waiver and businesses should continue to pay their Commercial Rates bill as normal.

What is the purpose of the grant?

The grant is available to qualifying businesses as a contribution towards the rising costs faced by businesses. The grant is intended to aid businesses but is not intended to directly compensate for all increases in wages, or other costs, for every business.

How much is the grant?

The grant is based on the value of the Commercial Rates bill received by an eligible business in 2023.

– For qualifying businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of <€10,000, the ICOB grant will be paid at a rate of 50% of the business’s Commercial Rate bill for 2023.

– For qualifying businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of between €10,000 and €30,000, the ICOB grant will be €5,000.

– Businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rates bill greater than €30,000 are not eligible to receive an ICOB grant.

What businesses are eligible to receive the grant?

The following are the main qualifying criteria:

• Your business must be a commercially trading business currently operating from a property that is commercially rateable.
• Your business must have been trading on 1^st February 2024 and you must intend to continue trading for at least three months from the date you verify your information.
• You must provide confirmation of your bank details.
• Your business must be rates compliant. Businesses in performing payment plans may be deemed to be compliant.
• Your business must be tax compliant and must possess a valid Tax Registration Number (TRN).

Please note that Laois County Council reserves the right to claw back any grant payment which is later found to be incorrect. This includes any circumstances such as error by the recipient business or the local authority making the payment, or where a business makes a false declaration of eligibility.

NOTE: As part of the Increased Cost of Business Grant Scheme all grant recipients will be published on the local authority website in November 2024.

How soon can businesses avail of the grant?

An online system is being developed to manage the submission of essential information. Laois County Council will write shortly to businesses with further details, including how to register and how to submit information online. The system is expected to be available in mid-March.

What is the closing date?

The closing date for businesses to confirm eligibility and to upload verification details will be 1^st May 2024.

Where can I find out further information?

Further correspondence and guidance will be issued to commercially rateable businesses in the next few weeks. In addition, an FAQ will be available online when the grant scheme opens. You should refer to this guidance and FAQ prior to making your submission.

If you have queries regarding your Commercial Rates account including outstanding balances, contact Laois County Council at 05786 89367 and/or rates@laoiscoco.ie. Our team are happy to discuss any balances outstanding on your rates and what steps can be taken to ensure compliance with the scheme.

 

 

**** Registration now open for ICOB scheme****

Click to register ICOB

As part of Budget 2024, the Government signed off on a package of €257m for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) Grant as a vital measure for small and medium businesses. Laois County Council, funded through Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), will manage the rollout of the grant to qualifying businesses.

Eligible businesses will receive a once-off grant payment. The amount of the grant payable to eligible businesses is based on the value of the Commercial Rates bill the business received in 2023. However, it is not a Commercial Rates waiver and businesses should continue to pay their Commercial Rates bill as normal.

What is the purpose of the grant?

The grant is available to qualifying businesses as a contribution towards the rising costs faced by businesses. The grant is intended to aid businesses but is not intended to directly compensate for all increases in wages, or other costs, for every business.

How much is the grant?

The grant is based on the value of the Commercial Rates bill received by an eligible business in 2023.

– For qualifying businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of <€10,000, the ICOB grant will be paid at a rate of 50% of the business’s Commercial Rate bill for 2023.

– For qualifying businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of between €10,000 and €30,000, the ICOB grant will be €5,000.

– Businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rates bill greater than €30,000 are not eligible to receive an ICOB grant.

What businesses are eligible to receive the grant?

The following are the main qualifying criteria:

• Your business must be a commercially trading business currently operating from a property that is commercially rateable.
• Your business must have been trading on 1^st February 2024 and you must intend to continue trading for at least three months from the date you verify your information.
• You must provide confirmation of your bank details.
• Your business must be rates compliant. Businesses in performing payment plans may be deemed to be compliant.
• Your business must be tax compliant and must possess a valid Tax Registration Number (TRN).

Please note that Laois County Council reserves the right to claw back any grant payment which is later found to be incorrect. This includes any circumstances such as error by the recipient business or the local authority making the payment, or where a business makes a false declaration of eligibility.

NOTE: As part of the Increased Cost of Business Grant Scheme all grant recipients will be published on the local authority website in November 2024.

How soon can businesses avail of the grant?

An online system is being developed to manage the submission of essential information. Laois County Council will write shortly to businesses with further details, including how to register and how to submit information online. The system is expected to be available in mid-March.

What is the closing date?

The closing date for businesses to confirm eligibility and to upload verification details will be 1^st May 2024.

Where can I find out further information?

Further correspondence and guidance will be issued to commercially rateable businesses in the next few weeks. In addition, an FAQ will be available online when the grant scheme opens. You should refer to this guidance and FAQ prior to making your submission.

If you have queries regarding your Commercial Rates account including outstanding balances, contact Laois County Council at 05786 89367 and/or rates@laoiscoco.ie. Our team are happy to discuss any balances outstanding on your rates and what steps can be taken to ensure compliance with the scheme.

 

 

For the attention of Plumbing Contractors (Plumbers), Electrical Contractors (Electricians) and Contractors involved in carrying out services/works relating to Renewable Energy Systems and Ancillary Works.

The Local Government Operational Procurement Centre (LGOPC) published a Dynamic Purchasing System for Minor Building Works – Tradespersons on the 16th June 2021 on www.etenders.gov.ie.

When established, Public Service Bodies, including Laois County Council will run competitions with the Economic Operators admitted to the Dynamic Purchasing System in their area.
To access the Dynamic Purchasing System documentation, please ensure you register on the Office of Government Procurement website www.etenders.gov.ie.
All Applications must be completed electronically on www.etenders.gov.ie.

This Dynamic Purchasing System will replace the existing Multi-Party Framework Agreements for Plumbing Services for Local Authorities and Electrical Services for Local Authorities and includes a further Lot for Renewable Energy Systems and Ancillary Works.

The Dynamic Purchasing System details are as follows:

Competition Name	Publishing Date	Initial Application Closing Time & Date	DPS Established	Publishing Website
Dynamic Purchasing System for Minor Building Works – Tradespersons	16th June 2021	15:00 Hrs   19th July 2021	Q3, 2021	www.etenders.gov.ie   System ID 192182

Please see LGOPC Information Note.  Any queries, please email eproc@kerrycoco.ie or telephone 076 1064020

The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended), makes specific provision that elected members of a local authority may pass a formal resolution to vary the basic rate of the Local Property Tax for their administrative area by a percentage known as the local adjustment factor.

This means that Laois County Council can increase or decrease the basic rate of the Local Property Tax within the County by a maximum of +/-15% or leave it unaltered.

At the meeting of Laois County Council held on 25th September 2023 to consider this matter the members agreed to increase the basic rate of local property tax by 10%. This rate applied for a period of one year from the 1st November 2023 (liability date) to the 31st October 2024. A review of the rate to be applied from the next liability date of 1st November 2024 will now be carried out.

The Council will meet on the 30th of September 2024 to consider the setting of a local adjustment factor for a period specified in the resolution. Members must decide whether to leave the rate unadjusted or alternatively to apply an adjustment factor to the rate.

Laois County Council welcomes written submissions from the public on this matter specifically covering the potential effects of varying the basic rate of the Local Property Tax on businesses, individuals and on local authority services.

Submissions must be received by 6th September 2024 and can be sent to:
•   LPT , Finance Department , Laois County Council, Aras an Chontae, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
•   LPT@Laoiscoco.ie

Signed:  Simon Walton
Interim Chief Executive

Dated:   30th July 2024

Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC)

The expanded Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID is now open for applications through Laois County Council.

Closing date for this scheme is 21st July 2021.

Phase 2 of this scheme has been expanded to include those that had previously been ineligible.

Businesses working from non-rateable premises are now eligible to apply and if they meet the other eligibility criteria will receive a grant of €4,000.

Businesses with a turnover between €20,000 and €49,999 are also now eligible to apply if they meet the other eligibility criteria and will receive a grant of €1,000.

BASC gives grants to businesses who are not eligible for the Government’s COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), the Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity grant or other direct sectoral grant schemes. This scheme aims to help businesses with their fixed costs, for example, rent, utility bills, security.

If you have received Phase 1 of SBASC you can apply for Phase 2 if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

Details of Phase 2 of SBASC:

• The scheme is available for businesses that do not qualify for CRSS, MEBAS, Fáilte Ireland Schemes or other sector schemes designed to assist with fixed costs
• the scheme is available to companies, self-employed, sole traders or partnerships;
• the business is not owned and operated by a public body;
• the business is not eligible or availed of CRSS, Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity Scheme, MEBAS or other sectoral schemes. The details of these schemes are set out on the application form and FAQs.
• the business operates from a building, including working from home, or similar fixed physical structure such as a yard or a street trading pitch for which rates are payable or in a co-working hub or a rented fixed desk. This does not include businesses carried on from motor vehicles, such as PSVs or construction trades;
• the business must have a current eTax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners;

Business Turnover criteria:

• the projected average weekly turnover of the business over the claim period 1st April to 30th June 2021 is estimated to be no more than 25% of the:
  • average weekly turnover of the business in 2019; or
  • the projected average weekly turnover of the business in 2020, for businesses that commenced after 1st November 2019, and the financial statements as of end of 2019 should be uploaded with the application;
• the business intends to resume trading in full once Government COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

 

The SBASC will be administered through your local authority: Proposed Term & Level of Payments

• The scheme will aid eligible businesses that meet the scheme criteria for the trading period beginning the 1st April to 30th of June 2021.
• All eligible applications with a minimum turnover of €50,000 will receive a payment of €4,000.
• All eligible applications with a minimum turnover of €20,000 and less than €49,999 will receive a payment of €1,000.
• Payments will be dispersed in the same format as rates refunds via bank transfer.
• The Scheme will close to new applicants on 21st July 2021.

 

The scheme will be run on a first-come-first-served basis.

For more COVID-19 business supports visit enterprise.gov.ie/coronavirus.

Applying
• If you have previously received SBASC funding, please
click here https://submit.link/dR[Short Form]

Scéim Cúnaimh do Ghnólachtaí Beaga le haghaidh COVID, Ráithe 2, 2021 – Do dheontaithe SCGBC roimhe seo amháin: https://submit.link/g5

• If you have NOT previously received SBASC funding, please
click here https://submit.link/di [Full Form]

Scéim Cúnaimh do Ghnólachtaí Beaga le haghaidh COVID, Ráithe 2, 2021 – foirm iomlán: https://submit.link/g6

Click here for Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID Frequently Asked Questions

Further details can be found through the following link:-Dynamic Purchasing System for Civil Engineering – Information Notice

Lot 1 – Road Making and Associated Ancillary Works with PSCS appointment for Contracts greater than €200K
Lot 2 – Road Making and Associated Ancillary Works with PSCS appointment for Contracts less than €200K
Lot 3 – Road Making and Associated Ancillary Works without PSCS appointment for Contracts less than €200K
Lot 4 – Civil Works with PSCS Appointment

The Local Government Operational Procurement Centre (LGOPC) published a Dynamic Purchasing System for Civil Engineering Works (“the DPS”) on the 19th April 2021 on www.etenders.gov.ie. The Dynamic Purchasing System details are as follows:

[one-half-first]Title of the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)
Reference on www.etenders.gov.ie (System ID)
Date of Publication
Initial Closing Date and Time for Receipt of Applications
DPS Established & Assessment of New Applications Commences
Application Method
Dynamic Purchasing System Period of Validity (Duration).[/one-half-first]
[one-half]Dynamic Purchasing System for Civil Engineering Works
188347
19th April 2021
19th May 2021, 15:00 Hrs
Q3, 2021

Electronic submissions through www.etenders.gov.ie
It is anticipated the DPS will be established for a period of five years[/one-half]

 

Should you have any queries in respect of this DPS please feel free to contact the Supplygov Team at eproc@kerrycoco.ie or 076 1064020