BUDGET 2023 budget supports will "hugely help" restaurant whose energy bills have doubled

The manager of a bar and restaurant in Kilmoon whose energy bills have doubled in recent months has welcomed government supports for the hospitality sector announced in the budget.

Paddy Coyle, manager of The Snailbox says costs to run the popular venue have increased so much, bosses had been thinking up Contingency plans for the winter ahead, adding that today's budget announcement will be a "huge help."

The Minister for Finance today announced measures to support business and enterprises in Ireland through what he called "these exceptionally challenging times."

Businesses will get up to €10,000 a month paid in their electricity or gas bills as part of the €1bn scheme.

Pascal Donohoe said the new scheme will be open to businesses that are tax compliant and have experienced a significant increase in their natural gas and electricity costs.

Paddy said getting such a hike in costs for energy bills during the summer months was a real shock, He added;

"We get our bills monthly and for the month of August, before we turned the heat or anything on, it completely doubled.

"That was in the warm weather, we didn't have any heating on in the restaurant at all.

"You are thinking , do you open later in the evening, do you keep the place closed, do you pull back the hours, do you close Monday and Tuesday.

"It's going to be a long winter but anything to help businesses is good news in this climate so if its there, why not take it.

"We have a big restaurant, we can hold 170 at one time, we have bedrooms upstairs, it all needs to be heated and electricity used."

But it's a case of give with one hand and take with the other according to the restaurant manager as The VAT rate for the hospitality industry will increase from the pandemic reduced rate of 9pc to 13.5pc at the end of February which will be significant blow for pubs, restaurants and hotels.

"WE thought it was going to stay for another while to help businesses out in hospitality so that's a bit of a shock. They give it to you one way then take it straight back."

Paddy pointed out, that the hospitality industry had just got back on its feet again after the pandemic before it was hit with another disaster.

"We had a great summer thank god and then all of a sudden, bang there is another thing down the line that you have to survive."