[ad_1]
A 16 million euro support package to help pubs, bars and clubs during the Covid-19 pandemic has been described by the industry as “woefully inadequate”, while Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said that there is no guarantee that the pubs reopen this year.
On Friday, the government announced that pubs and bars that are currently closed can apply for a new restart grant, which will award a 40 percent top-up to businesses planning to reopen.
Now they can receive a minimum of € 5,600 and a maximum of € 35,000 under the plan.
Donall O’Keeffe, executive director of the Licensed Vintners Association, said the support package was “completely disappointing.”
“All companies in the country can get a restart grant of between 4,000 and 25,000 euros, including pubs, and that is very welcome.
“But now we are going to deal with an industry that has been closed for a minimum of six months. So an additional 40 percent just doesn’t compensate those pubs for the cost of a six-month shutdown,” he said. .
“It is woefully inappropriate.”
Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae said the € 16 million package was an insult to publicans.
He said: “Publicans across Ireland are shocked by the way this government has treated them. They have been sold and are being treated really, very badly.”
“On the one hand, they cannot open their doors, and on the other hand, what they have been offered is nothing, practically nothing.”
In announcing the financing on Friday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar acknowledged that it had been “a difficult few months” for bar owners.
“This package, in addition to the grants and subsidies that are already available, will help bar owners with the expenses related to preparing for the reopening. We want to make sure our pubs are ready to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, ”he said.
The government also agreed on Friday night to grant greater enforcement powers to gardaí for pubs that do not meet Covid-19 public health guidelines.
[ad_2]