Government continue to spin that they provided a 'package' of €16m in supports for the pubs still closed.

They didn't.

The pubs still closed will see very little of that 'package' and next to nothing in grant aid.

Let's take a look at the detail.
1/

59% of the package (€9.4m) consists of waiving the licence fee and court fees for pubs, restaurants and hotels. So most of the 'package' consists of not charging a levy on hospitality businesses who have faced massive levels of restrictions.
2/

That support is also being shared amongst all qualifying hospitality businesses. Meaning that businesses who have been open and trading since June will see as much benefit as the pubs still closed.
3/

Those businesses who are open will account for most of the €9.4m levy that is being waived by Government.

This isn't cash - it's the waiving of a charge which it would have been unreasonable to impose in the first place.

4/

That leaves €6.6m in the 'package'. As the Government decided to make this a one off grant linked to the Restart Grant Plus it means the average small pub (most of the pubs still closed) will get a total of €1,600 extra in aid.

For being closed for 6 months.

5/

By this Sunday when these pubs will have been closed for 25 weeks that will work out at €64 per week where their doors have been closed by order of the Government.

A figure which will decrease with each passing week.

6/

As @melletts1797 made the point yesterday, this doesn't just apply to the lowest licence band, pubs in Mayo and Galway have not been re-rated yet so pubs in higher bands will also only get the minimal sum.

7/

Even though they are closed these businesses still have to pay electricity, insurance, supply costs, security costs, in some cases leases, as well as other overheads. The grant aid provided goes no where near meeting their expenses.
8/

The way the Government designed the 'package' means the pubs closed for at least 6 months will get as much in grant aid as businesses shut in Kildare for about 4 weeks.

It was derisory.
9/

The Government also claim they are providing other supports for the pubs still closed.

Let's take a look at them too.

10/

They are 'waiving' the commercial rates for six months. Sp they are not imposing what is effectively a tax for doing business on businesses who they won't allow to open. Hardly a 'support'.

Oh and the pubs will be closed for longer than those 6 months.

11/

The Government cut the VAT rate from 23% to 21%.

OK.

So how will pubs that can't open and trade get any benefit from that measure?

12/

The Government has said they are providing 'Liquidity Supports'.

That is basically spin for LOANS.

No pub still closed wants any additional debt. So again not much use.

13/

The Government has championed the 'Stay and Spend' initiative as being another 'support'. Not only does this not help the pubs still closed, it doesn't apply to alcohol so it is of zero use to pubs.

14/

The pubs that are open and trading do appreciate the fact that the wage subsidy scheme has been extended (although the cuts are going to have a massive impact).

But that scheme won't be any help to pubs or their staff if the business goes under.

15/

Also under EWSS any workers earning less than €151.50 doesn't get the subsidy. That means part time staff/ cleaners, many of whom would earn in the region of €10.50 p/h and who maybe do 1 or 2 days a week won't qualify.

16/

We estimate that could impact as much as 20% - 30% of the staff in Dublin pubs.

17/

Oh and as we pointed out yesterday the pubs still closed have been relying on the mortgage moratorium from the banks.

That lasts for 6 months and the banks say it can't be extended.

The 6 months finish at the end of Sept

18/

The LVA and @VFIpubs had pressed for ongoing grant aid with supports ranging from €270pw to €1,650pw to be provided to these pubs, which would have been provided for each week that the Government & NPHET prevented these businesses from opening their doors

19/

This was rejected as the Government doesn't want to commit to support that is "open ended".

Yet they expect the closure of the pubs to be "open ended".

20/

So there you have it.

The Government seems to want to have it every way with non food pubs. They want them to stay closed to protect the public health but they won’t provide adequate support to allow those same pubs to survive.

21/

We described the Government's 'package' for the pubs as crumbs.

It's actually worse than that. It mostly consists of 'spin'.

If they want to get real we're always ready and waiting
@MichealMartinTD @LeoVaradkar @EamonRyan @Paschald @mmcgrathtd

ENDS