[ad_1]
A multi-million euro fund has been announced to help food-serving businesses pay for more outdoor seating.
The hospitality sector has suffered significant losses due to coronavirus restrictions and when pubs and restaurants reopen, the emphasis will be on alfresco dining.
Tourism Minister Catherine Martin, together with Fáilte Ireland, announced the establishment of a € 17 million fund where businesses serving food can apply for funds to help pay for more outdoor seating.
Minister Martin said the plan aims to help businesses increase their dining and seating capacity in the short term and “enable a long-term strategy for local authorities to develop adequate permanent waterproof outdoor dining infrastructure.” .
The subsidies would be around € 4,000 per location and can cover the expenses incurred since last April.
Local authorities may also apply for funds to develop permanent public dining spaces on specially zoned streets in towns and cities.
This will make waterproofing easier to allow year-round outdoor dining with umbrellas, windbreaks, and electric heaters.
Each local authority can request funding of € 200,000 and additional funding may be available depending on the economic value of the proposals.
[ad_2]