BUSINESS: ‘You just feel ignored’ Small businesses struggling under the weight of costs

BUSINESS

Businesses in Meath East are struggling to survive and say a perfect storm of factors have been instrumental in putting their livelihood at risk.

Just last month, hundreds of hospitality, tourism, retail, childcare and other small business owners and workers took part in a protests in the area and all over the country over rising costs and what they claim is a lack of Government assistance.

An Ashbourne business owner who was forced to close his doors due to spiralling running costs last month says the government’s decision to reject calls to reinstate the 9 per cent VAT rate for the hospitality industry was a “devastating blow” for the sector.

Russell Bailey had made a plea for the government to reduce the VAT rate for the hospitality sector in the budget after announcing that his restaurant, La Bucca would close at the end of October due to sky rocketing running costs.

Mr Bailey should have been celebrating the 20th anniversary of his restaurant in Ashbourne last month but instead the business owner was preparing to shut the doors for the last time due to rising costs, VAT rate hikes and constant roadwork disruption that took its toll on businesses in the area.

Russell who also owns two other La Bucca Restaurants in Ratoath and Dunboyne and Cafe Novello in Ratoath said the move was a “hammer blow” for the independent hospitality sector.

“It is devastating, there is just going to be a mass closure of businesses now I think, it is a dark day for everyone involved ” he said.

“You just feel ignored, " added the business owner. It is going to be another year of struggle, another year of closures.”