Restaurants, cafes, and gastropubs are upset after being excluded from a €10m support scheme for businesses affected by the use of local hotels and B&Bs to house refugees.
Adrian Cummins, CEO of the restaurants Association it is “deeply unfair for restaurants and cafes who are excluded from the grant aid scheme”.
¬Interim chair at Fáilte Ireland Tom Coughlan told the Restaurants Association of Ireland that “restaurants, cafes and gastropubs are not within the scope of the ministerial request and as such will not be included.”
In a letter leaked the media he said: “The minister has asked Fáilte Ireland to engage with impacted tourism businesses to consider the scope for a specific business support scheme that could help the most affected tourism activities and attractions and report back to her. The instruction is to look at a targeted scheme for attractions and activities impacted by the accommodation shortage specifically,”
While businesses represented by associations such as the Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions (AVEA) and Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism (IAAT) will benefit from the €10m scheme. Hospitality businesses will receive support from a separate package announced by Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, including one-time grants to address increased overheads benefiting 130,000 businesses at a cost of €250m.
Tourism Minister Catherine Martin had promised measures to help businesses impacted by the presence of Ukrainian tourists in nearby accommodation, but Fáilte Ireland (which was requested to develop the scheme) stated that these hospitality businesses would not be included. “Minister Martin does not have sectoral responsibility for pubs and restaurants or the wider hospitality sector,” a Department spokesperson said.
Fáilte Ireland is working with the tourism department to develop proposals for potential business supports and intends to report back soon.
