Photo shows a near empty Barronstrand Street in Waterford City at 4pm yesterday afternoon.
Businesses affected by the Covid 19 pandemic will be given a three month break from rates.
Minister John Paul Phelan says there will be a provision to review this at the end of the two months.
Waterford Fianna Fail Councillor Adam Wyse says this is to be welcomed but he thinks it may not go far enough for business owners.
He told WLR News:
"I'm speaking to business owners every single day. This is not a two month thing, this is four, five, six months and for people in tourism you are probably talking about a year out of the game now.
"Companies like Tesco and convenience shops may come back a lot sooner, but a lot of people are literally just talking about closing up for four or five months and this rates break will need to be announced again.
"Whatever Government is in place at that time is going to have to extend the rates break."
Councillor Wyse says the council will have to be reimbursed by the Government or else there will be major disruption to services.
