Independent Ireland councillor and Galway West by-election candidate Noel Thomas has called on Government to bring forward an immediate, targeted support package for small businesses as new fuel, transport and energy surcharges begin to land with firms across Galway.
His call comes as the latest Exchequer figures show the State took in €22.6 billion in tax revenue in the first quarter of 2026, up 3.4 per cent on last year, with income tax at €8.7 billion, VAT at €8.0 billion, and €18 billion already transferred to the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. The Department of Finance has itself said the State is in a strong position to respond to protect households and businesses. ?
Councillor Thomas said small businesses do not need open-ended handouts, but they do need Government to step in with temporary, practical assistance so they can continue trading through a period of exceptional volatility.
“What business owners are telling me is very simple. They are being hit again with fresh increases in transport, fuel and energy-related costs on top of everything else they have already absorbed. These are not people looking for a bailout. They are looking for breathing space and a fair chance to keep their doors open, keep people employed and keep serving their communities.”
He said one of the quickest interventions would be a temporary commercial rates waiver or reduction, with central Government compensating local authorities directly. “We have done this before in Ireland and we can do it again. During Covid, the State funded commercial rates waivers for affected businesses.
If Government can step in during one crisis, it can step in during another when viable firms are under pressure from externally-driven cost shocks.” Official Government material states that a 100 per cent commercial rates waiver was applied during the Covid period for most businesses, with local authorities compensated by the State.
