The Minister for Tourism is launching a €17 million fund to help hospitality businesses with outdoor dining when restrictions all them to reopen.
Catherine Martin, along with Fáilte Ireland, will announce the scheme for which businesses serving food can apply for funding to go towards outdoor dining facilities.
Each premises will receive a grant of around €4,000 on average while local authorities will also be able to apply for the development of permanent public dining spaces in specially zoned streets in towns and cities. This includes plans for year-round outdoor dining with parasols, wind breakers and electric heaters.
Yesterday, many publicans and restaurateurs expressed their disappointment after An Taoiseach Micheál Martin made no mention of the reopening of the hospitality trade in his speech announcing the easing of restrictions for April. He did, however suggest that hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses could be permitted to reopen in June, depending on the situation in May.
(header pic: Shutterstock)
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