Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he knows how important tourism and hospitality are to Killarney and, in that regard, support will be provided through the €170 million power-up scheme that will see retail and hospitality businesses that previously received an increased cost of business (ICOB) grant receive a flat energy grant payment of €4,000 this year.
Responding to concerns raised in the Dáil by Danny Healy-Rae, Mr Harris said he has no doubt but that the Independent Kerry TD will actively help people in Kerry to apply for the scheme.
“He will be going into the shops, cafés and hotels telling them to apply for it. It will be very easy to do so. If people already got the ICOB grant, they will be sent an email with a link they can click on to declare they are still in business and still paying rates. They will get the €4,000 before Christmas,” the Taoiseach stressed.
In addition to that grant, over the past six months, the ICOB scheme has paid out over €242 million to almost 75,000 small and medium businesses, including a double payment to 39,000 businesses that are either in hospitality or retail.
Deputy Healy-Rae had said many businesses in Killarney are disappointed that VAT was not reduced in the Budget and the failure to do this has traumatised a lot of people.
“Many businesses were clinging on and hoping they would get this boost in the Budget but they did not. Restaurants, bars, sweet shops, souvenir shops, hairdressers are under pressure,” he said.
He said they are facing so many rules and regulations as well as the reduction in footfall caused by an influx of thousands of Ukrainians and other immigrants into hotels, guesthouses and other properties.
“The Government cannot have it both ways. It can either support our tourism product or fill the hotels with immigrants. It is one or the other,” Deputy Healy-Rae said.
“Many businesses are struggling to pay the rates and also cope with increased wage costs, electricity costs and many other rules and regulations. Many doors will close and every one that does will have a knock-on effect.
“We will see in two or three years that whatever government is in office will spend a lot of money to entice people to open their doors again,” he remarked.
The Taoiseach insisted, however, that the challenges outlined have nothing whatsoever to do with immigration.
“That does not stand up to scrutiny. The same is true of the issues in the hospitality sector and the like. In fact, many parts of the hospitality sector significantly benefit from people coming to our country and working in those facilities. It is important we are factual in our comments here,” Mr Harris said.
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