Fears have once again been expressed that without adequate support, small hospitality businesses in Clare will cease to exist.
It comes in a week where Clare SMEs protested outside Leinster House, while a motion before Clare County Council demanded more government supports for the hospitality sector.
At this week’s meeting of the local authority, the Council was called on to ask the Enterprise Minister to urgently review current supports available for small hospitality businesses throughout County Clare.
Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker Bashua’s motion comes in light of the struggles many of these businesses are facing post pandemic and what she’s described as the ongoing rise in operational costs.
She believes that despite their significant contribution to the local economy and employment, they’re not receiving enough help to sustain their operations.
Clare’s SMEs were among thousands of protestors who converged on the Dail this week to call for a reduction in the VAT rate, but following a Dáil vote yesterday evening, it will remain at 13.5%.
Calling for a review of current supports and a plan with relevant bodies to provide targeted assistance, Councillor Baker Bashua, claims even a slight reduction on the VAT rate to 11% would have provided huge assistance to the hospitality sector.
The Clare Local Enterprise Office has reassured that these issues have been raised with the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Emer Higgins during her visit to the County earlier this month.
It’s also highlighted several targeted measures introduced by Government recently which are designed to alleviate the challenges faced by many businesses.
These include the Increased Cost of Business Grant scheme, under which more than €6 million in grant funding has been paid to 2,370 Clare businesses.
One small business owner in Clare insists though, that without additional government support, businesses will have no choice other than to cease operations.
Martin Canavan from Moher Hill Farm in Liscannor says due to the nature of his business, he must pay VAT on both admission fees and income from the amenities that are on offer and he claims that times have never been tougher in all his 25 years in business.
You can listen to the full interview here:
