Athlone Chamber of Commerce President, Alan Shaw has reminded local hospitality and tourism businesses that there is still time to avail of the Outdoor Dining grants recently announced by Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin and Fáilte Ireland.
Mr. Shaw said the grants could be availed of through the relevant local authorities.
“This multi-million euro fund can be availed of through Westmeath or Roscommon County Council. The aim of the scheme is to provide support to individual independent hospitality and tourism businesses towards the cost of equipment to provide additional outdoor seating and facilitate these individual independent businesses to increase their outdoor dining capacity for the summer of 2021,” he said.
Applicants to the Outdoor Dining Scheme can apply for a grant of up to €4,000 (for up to 75% of the ex-VAT cost of equipment purchased), and applications are to be made directly to Westmeath or Roscommon County Council, and local authorities are to approve applicants on submission of receipts and photography of furniture in situ.
Mr. Shaw added: “The following is a list of eligible expenditure: outdoor tables, outdoor chairs, umbrellas, electric heaters, screens/windbreaks, and outdoor plant stands”.
Expenditure must be incurred between April 1st 2020, and September 30th 2021. The scheme opened on local authorities’ websites on the April 12th and will close on September 30th.
All applicants will be required to comply with planning codes, legislative requirements and other compliance requirements.
