Mayo businesses tell finance minister of 'worrying impact of rising costs'

Members of the Mayo business and retail sector have met with Finance Minister Michael McGrath today to outline their concerns over rising costs.

The meeting, which took place at Breaffy House Resort, was organised by Castlebar Chamber of Commerce and facilitated by local Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers, a candidate in the European Parliament elections.

The key points raised related to the growing costs of doing businesses.

These included energy, insurance, transport, commercial rates, excise duty and staff costs.

Reference was made to the rise in the minimum wage, a hike in the number of employee sick days and the new pension auto enrolment scheme.

As well as considering these issues, an appeal was issued to Minister McGrath to significantly reduce employers' PRSI, review the VAT rate from 13.5% to 9% for hospitality and halt the increase in excise duty.

The point was well made that delays in the planning process are making it very challenging for new businesses to start and established ones to change 'due to all the red tape'.

Anne Conlon, president of Castlebar Chamber, said the rail and road infrastructure across the west needs urgent upgrading.

She said Ireland West Airport Knock was designated as a strategic development zone (SDZ) in May 2017 with the potential to create 4,000 jobs.

Yet this initiative has yet to be developed and it is time the government gave it priority status.

Ms. Conlon also called for the annual cap on Dublin Airport passenger numbers to be increased from 32 to 40 million to ensure greater flexibility in attracting further Americian and multi-national investment into the western region.

"Mayo is a county ready for more investment from the international market.

"When decisions are made I want you to remember that Castlebar and all the main towns in Mayo are open for business," she added.

The minister took the points on board, adding that his department had launched a grant scheme to help businesses, paying between €5,000 and €30,000 in rates, to secure support of up to €5,000.

However, less that 50% of Mayo companies have so far availed of the scheme, for which the closing date is May 1.

Senator Chambers has made an application for the May 1 deadline to be extended.