IN THE BUDGET today,\u00a0T\u00e1naiste Simon Harris announced a \u20ac15 million plan to help \u2018keep our pub doors open\u2019, but what does this plan actually entail?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Well, we don\u2019t fully know yet.<\/p>\n
During his budget speech in the D\u00e1il on Tuesday, the finance minister said he\u2019d be working alongside enterprise minister Peter Burke to develop a scheme to assist publicans.<\/p>\n
The scheme will be targeted towards rural pubs, and Harris said supporting them will help \u201ckeep an important part of rural life alive\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking to media after the budget announcement, Harris said this will likely involve \u201ca rebate scheme around kegs\u201d but there is \u201ca bit of work\u201d they need to do on the plan, including seeing what\u2019s possible under European law.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harris said: \u201cWhat I\u2019ve decided to do, in consultation with government colleagues, is allocate \u20ac15 million to put in place some measures to assist with the sustainability of rural pubs from July.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il spokesperson for rural affairs, Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter \u2018Chap\u2019 Cleere, welcomed the investment in rural pubs and said it will help ensure that \u201csocial isolation doesn\u2019t become a prominent issue in rural Ireland\u201d.<\/p>\n
Vintners\u2019 Federation of Ireland (VFI) chief executive Pat Crotty, meanwhile, called the funding \u201ca vote of confidence\u201d in the industry.<\/p>\n
In a statement today, he said the money is \u201ca great starting point\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany challenges, of course, remain, but today is a positive day for our rural pubs and the communities they serve.\u201d<\/p>\n