B&B owners can claim for grants of up to €4,000 to help with reopening

From today B&B owners across the country can claim for grants up to €4,000 to help with reopening and restarting their business

It has been a tough year for the tourism trade in Ireland. With travel restrictions and lockdowns, international tourism is almost defunct and the country is now focusing on domestic opportunities.

Bed & Breakfasts have especially felt the pressure. However, B&B owners who don’t pay local authority rates can claim for grants of up to €4,000 from today. This opportunity comes following the opening of applications under the Restart Grant Plus for B&Bs.

The initiative hopes to help B&B owners with the cost of reopening and support them as the business restarts. B&Bs in Laois, Kildare and Offaly will be able to claim €4,800 because of local restrictions that were introduced in recent weeks.

The grant will be administered through Fáilte Ireland on behalf of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

CEO of Fáilte Ireland Paul Kelly said of the grant: “Economically tourism was hit hardest and will take the longest to recover from the Covid-19 crisis…Our focus is on sustaining the sector and supporting businesses to open and operate safely as we move through the pandemic.”

“We welcomed the Government’s decision to extend the Restart Grant to B&Bs as part of the July Jobs Stimulus package and we look forward to working with the B&B sector as we administer it…This grant will help B&B owners with the costs associated with re-opening and re-employing workers following Covid-19 closures.”

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