Clare Restaurant Owner Warns VAT Rate Is Pricing Local Business Out Of The Market

Clare FM

A Clare Publican is warning businesses are being forced to cut back on their own maintenance due to rising input costs. It comes as Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe has confirmed there will be no reduction to the 13.5% hospitality VAT rate in Budget 2025. According to the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the return to the 9.5% rate is needed urgently as 600 food outlets have closed this year alone. Clare Toursim Advisory Vice Chair and Owner of Durty Nellys in Bunratty, Maurice Walsh says the situation has become perilous. A Clare Restaurateur meanwhile fears the Government's approach will lead to a raft of further closures in the industry. Co-Owner of the Monks Restaurant in Ballyvaughan Patrick O'Donohue insists reducing the VAT rate is the only way to provide the hospitality industry with real relief and prevent costs from being passed onto consumers.