That was the view of a number of members and officials of the County Council during a debate on the South Tipperary Retail Development Programme yesterday.
Councillor Denis Leahy was critical that rates were still at 2008 levels despite the fact that trade is back near 2002 while Sylvia Cooney Sheehan felt development charges were holding back new businesses.
However chairman of the councils Strategic Policy Committee for Physical and Economic Planning and Development Michael Murphy claims these are not the only hindrance.
The Fine Gael representative said development charges have fallen by 50% in the county while County Manager Billy McEvoy pointed to rent, energy and insurance costs as being major factors facing new and existing businesses.
