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Sectors that require much-needed support
By Liz Farsaci
Ahead of the highly anticipated budget announcements, various sectors asked the government to provide much-needed support.
The food and hospitality sectors have already called for more state support for their worst-hit businesses, warning that industries are teetering on the brink of survival.
Meanwhile, others who work with children, the elderly and people with disabilities urged the government to fund adequate social supports for vulnerable groups.
The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) has called for the restoration of salary support to the previous levels of the Temporary Salary Subsidy Plan, a reduction in VAT, the abolition of commercial rates for one year and increases in cash subsidies.
Donall O’Keeffe, director of the LVA, has said: “Now there is a massive level of responsibility in the Government to present real and meaningful measures of support in the Budget, particularly for the sector of the bars”.
Meanwhile, Adrian Cummins, director of the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI), said the industry is teetering “on the brink” of survival.
He said last week that the future of the hotel industry now depends on the budget.
Cummins said: “The budget will be the deciding factor when it comes to the future of the industry.”
The Irish Hotel Federation has asked the Government to increase the support rates of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme to the previous levels of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme of € 350 / € 410 per week.
Meanwhile, Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) yesterday (MON) renewed its call for increased investment in child care, insisting that the 2021 budget should increase Treasury spending on child care to 0.5% of GDP by 2023 and at 1% by 2025.
Frances Byrne, Policy Director for Early Childhood Ireland, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated how crucial our sector is, but also how underfunded and vulnerable it is.
“Substantially higher investment for the early years and the care of school-age children should be a sustained approach for the Government.
“The 2021 budget will be the first test of how well they meet this challenge.”
Active Retirement Ireland requested a Budget 2021 to ensure that older people can live healthy and independent lives and remain active participants in their local communities.
Maureen Kavanagh, Executive Director of Active Retirement Ireland, said: “Viewing older people not as a burden, but as full and active citizens, would be a truly transformative step for Irish society.
“The Budget is an opportunity for the government to ensure that older people can remain healthier, independent and contribute to their communities for longer.”
People living with disabilities need more support as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland (SBHI) said Today’s Budget (TUES) should provide funds for people with disabilities to have access to medical services, personal assistance services, employment in mental health services and daily supplies, as many still they are trapped.
SBHI Executive Director Tom Scott said: “The government must ensure that the most vulnerable in society are prioritized in terms of meeting their needs arising from spina bifida and / or hydrocephalus.
“Provisions must be made so that all necessary supports are implemented expeditiously so that the already severe legacy of Covid-19 does not further isolate people living with disabilities.”
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