South Dublin County Council (SDCC) has announced that applications are now open for financial support from a new scheme for tourism and hospitality businesses in South Dublin County. Aimed at assisting the sector increase their outdoor dining capacity, SDCC is encouraging local hospitality and tourism providers to apply for grant funding under Fáilte Ireland’s new Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme. Grants of up to €4,000 are available under the Outdoor Dining Enhancement and Accessories for Tourism and Hospitality Business strand of the Scheme to support hospitality businesses with upgrading venues and public spaces and implementing weather-proofing solutions to facilitate year-round outdoor dining.
The scheme is open to attractions, hotels, restaurants, cafes, public houses or other tourism and hospitality business establishments where food is sold for consumption on the premises. The scheme will provide for up to 75% of the ex-VAT cost of equipment purchased/installed with a maximum allowable contribution of up to €4,000 per applicant. Funding under the scheme is only available to existing businesses and all applicants will be required to comply with planning codes, legislative requirements, and other compliance requirements. The Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme is open for applications until 30/9/2021. Applications can now be made on www.sdcc.ie.
Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr Ed O’Brien, said, “I very much welcome this scheme and the financial assistance it provides to local businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors as they reopen following the easing of COVID-19 lockdowns. The pandemic has had an impact on all of us but sectors like tourism and hospitality have been hit harder than most. The Grant’s afford business, particularly those in our villages, the opportunity to embrace outdoor dining and bring a new dynamic to those villages which would greatly enhance them. I look forward to the days where we can once again socialise outdoors and support local business as we do so. I would urge the local tourism and hospitality sector in South Dublin County to avail of the funding on offer and to contact the Council if they have any questions on it.”
Frank Nevin, Director of Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development at South Dublin County Council, said, “South Dublin County Council is delighted to work with Fáilte Ireland on this scheme to support the hospitality and tourism sectors and to continue the role the Council has played in supporting business during the pandemic. Through the Local Enterprise Office, South Dublin County Council provided in excess of €32m in 2020 in direct support across Restart Grants, trading online vouchers, business continuity vouchers and Client Stimulus Schemes. The Council also gave a Commercial Rates waiver to eligible businesses, including the vast majority of Small and Medium Enterprises and supported by a €900 million special funding allocation from the government. We would encourage any eligible business in the County to apply for this funding.”
