A Mullingar councillor is calling on Westmeath County Council to support small local businesses by campaigning to have the fuel rebate scheme extended to small business owners and self-employed people.
Cllr Bill Collentine asked the council to write to Minister for Finance Michael Noonan to ask him to extend the scheme.
“Truckers and buses have got it and small businesses deserve it as well. They are getting it hard to survive and they deserve a break. We should be trying to start at the bottom and support our small businesses,” said Cllr Collentine.
His call was supported by Cllr Ruth Illingworth, who highlighted the large amount of employment provided by small businesses.
“We want to encourage people who are starting businesses and trying to run their own business... particularly people who have lost their job and are trying to start their own business,” she said.
Cllr Peter Burke also supported the motion, adding that Minister Noonan had already extended the scheme from the haulage sector to the business sector.
