The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland is calling on the Government to introduce a new support scheme for pubs in Budget 2027.
The organisation wants a new On-Trade Sustainability Scheme which will give a tax credit of €20 for every 50-litre keg of draught beer or cider sold, with a maximum payment of €20,000 per pub each year.
The VFI says pubs continue to face rising energy, wage and operating costs, while many smaller and rural premises do not benefit from the reduced VAT rates available to food-serving businesses.
Local publican Anthony Morrisson is with the Kilkenny branch of the VFI.
“There’s parts of rural Kilkenny that are decimated without the pub, basically because there’s nothing to do after 6 o’ clock in the evening. You know, this whole night-time economy, it shuts down at 6 o clock. Once the local shop closes, that’s it. You’re indoors till the following morning to the local shop opens again.” said Anthony.
“There is no connectivity for anybody really, in rural Ireland, once a pub goes. The reason we looked at this scheme is it’s a draft based scheme, so it doesn’t, you know, it’s not going to benefit off licenses, it’s not going to benefit the multinationals. It’s sector specific to the small Irish pub.” he added.
