Standing costs 'eating up' lockdown subsidies to Mayo business sector - TD

While the Mayo business sector has welcomed the support subsidies put in place during lockdown, many have been hit hard by standing utility, IT and security costs.

Explained Deputy Dara Calleary: "These are eating up much of their subsidy.

"I know the government cannot provide for everything.

"However, given that no revenue is coming in, the utility and credit card companies need to stand up to the plate in terms of working with businesses and providing them with support, particularly where there are standing charges not necessarily for the use of a service.

"Many retailers have been left with stock more appropriate to the winter and most definitely not appropriate to opening up for the summer.

"They must be able to sell that stock but their suppliers are not dealing with them.

"Again, that is an issue that is soaking up much of the money under the supports."

Deputy Calleary said the hospitality sector is at the forefront of many of the restrictions.

"As hospitality begins to open up again, we will see that there has been a flight of experienced and qualified hospitality staff to more secure employment such as essential retail.

"Without that experience, we are going to find it hard to get our hospitality industry back up to the level at which it was.

"This will also affect the level of contribution the sector makes to the Exchequer.

"At some stage, consideration should be given to a key worker initiative to assist the hospitality industry retain or bring back experienced workers.

"Many retailers have been left with stock more appropriate to the winter and most definitely not appropriate to opening up for the summer.

"They must be able to sell that stock but their suppliers are not dealing with them.

"Again, that is an issue that is soaking up much of the money under the supports.

The Ballina-based TD spoke on the issue of the older self-employed.

"We are quite ageist in our approach to this. Just because one is over 66, does not mean one does not have outgoings and may need the supports.

"The exclusion of this age group from many of these schemes is very unfair."