SINN Féin MLA Raymond McCartney has welcomed the agreement of the Rates Amendment Bill in the Assembly which will helps sports clubs.
After a three year campaign, the introduction of a Private Members Bill and a consultation with hundreds of sport clubs the DFP Bill agreed will introduce full rate relief for Community Amateur Sport Clubs (CASCs) without bars that will represent up to £750,000 in sport club investment.
Speaking after the Bill was agreed he said: “Our 3 year campaign to get a better deal for amateur sport clubs, for our GAA, soccer, rugby clubs, etc, has been long and difficult.
“What the Assembly has agreed to represents a huge investment in our amateur sport clubs and comes on the back of excellent work of Daithí McKay, consultation with hundreds of sport clubs and the drawing up of a private members legislation.
“After he secured an amendment to the Bill this week, the first regulations for this relief will be introduced before September. A consultation on these will begin in the coming weeks.
“The Department of Finance and Personnel has adopted much of Daithí proposal, which I welcome, but it has yet to agree the way forward for our CASCs with licensed premises.
“This is unfinished business as far as we are concerned but I welcome the commitment by the Department to review this situation in the time ahead.
“But this is a better deal for many of our CACSs who will not have to pay rates on their clubrooms, storage facilities and their club stands, etc.”