Council has received 120 applications for new outdoor dining licences

Local authorities urged to prioritise outdoor dining facilities to boost tourism and trade

Meath County Council has seen a surge in applications for licences for outdoor dining facilities in public places ahead of a lifting of Covid-19 restrictions on 7th June.

Monday’s meeting of the council was told that 120 applications for licences had been received so far and these were being processed as quickly as possible.

A Council official said that planning permission to construct outdoor facilities was not required but those proposing to provide the facilities in a public place needed a licence. The placing of dining facilities on private property did not require a licence, he said.

Fianna Fail Cllr Damien O’Reilly called on the council to permit outdoor dining at all commercial premises until the Covid vaccination programme has been completed. This would entail the use of outdoor awnings, canopies, seating and tables on pathways along commercial hospitality frontage.

He said this would greatly assist commercial premises which had to close due to Covid restrictions and could only re-open with with limited socially distanced indoor facilities.

The Government has sent a circular letter to local authorities urging them to give applications for licences for outdoor dining facilities high priority so as to help the catering and tourism industries to recover.

Cllr O’Reilly urged consumers to come out and support these businesses through a difficult time.