Clare County Council is expected to again waive the charges imposed on businesses to support outdoor dining this summer.
It comes as the government has announced that cafes and restaurants will be able to get a grant of up to 4,000 euro to set up an outdoor dining space in time for the fine weather beginning.
Prior to the pandemic, as part of planning regulations, businesses who offered outdoor dining to customers paid for an annual license which, for example, would have seen a cafe with four tables pay €500 a year.
These fees weren’t levied last year, however, and the local authority is proposing to continue this initiative in 2021, in order to support the local economy.
Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy says it’s a welcome boost for the hospitality industry here ahead of what’s expected to be a predominantly outdoor summer.
