Calls for Revenue to investigate Louth shops ‘that don’t have a lot of customers’

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

A Louth councillor has called for questions to be asked on shops which, he said, appeared to be making profits despite little footfall.

Speaking at the September meeting of Louth County Council, Cllr. Ciaran Fisher said the council had previously asked for a letter to be written to the Revenue office in Dundalk to ask if they could meet with councillors.

He said there were a number of issues which members wanted to raise, including the business premises in Dundalk where “the footfall doesn’t seem to be commensurate with the profits being made.”

Today's News in 90 Seconds - September 25th

"We see a lot of these shops popping up, they don’t seem to have a lot of customers, but they are able to pay their rent. I think it is something revenue should investigate.”

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Sean Kelly, told the meeting this would be looked at again.

Cllr. Pio Smith asked if the council inspect shop fronts to see if they are complying with shop front guidelines if they are in receipt of grants to carry out works.

Thomas McEvoy, Deputy Chief Executive, Louth County Council said any business in receipt of a grant must comply with the shopfront guidelines.

He said the council also review shopfronts as part of unauthorised development planning compliance, which is a different mechanism, but involves monitoring of shopfronts.