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Tralee Chamber CEO Colette O’Connor
TRALEE Chamber has welcomed the overall initiatives introduced in Budget 2023 to support business and the expansionary approach of the Government to address many of the needs of the most exposed members of the business community.
However, Colette O’Connor CEO Tralee Chamber, said the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector should be retained beyond February of next year.
“We must enable and empower our SMEs to continue to compete and remain productive throughout this time,” she said.
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“Most importantly, it means investing in the places where we live and work. In many respects the Government has listened.”
“However, we are disappointed to see that the 9% VAT rate has not been retained beyond February 28th, 2023. This will have significant impact on the hospitality sector. At a time when we should be dampening now on inflation, this was a measure that could have been taken”.
“We welcome the announcement of the two new business support schemes to help businesses with the cost of electricity and gas”.
The first scheme of €200 million administered by Enterprise Ireland for larger firms involved in exporting and manufacturing.
The second scheme is targeted at SMEs the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme TBESS, will cover 40% of the increase in electricity or gas bills, up to a maximum of €10,000 per month per business.
“Tralee has a severe lack of accommodation which impacts employers in attracting skills and talent to work in Tralee and North Kerry. Tralee Chamber see the new property tax as a positive move to incentivising property owners to put their properties back on the market and in turn attracting business and talent to the Tralee area.
“We called for a Budget which would support businesses. We appreciate the challenges facing Government in delivering on every ask of the business community, but there are missed opportunities in this Budget,” Ms O’Connor concluded.
