As a recognition by the State that small businesses in the hospitality and retail industries need less ,not more “red tape” and costs incurred, the Minister in the Department of Local Government directed, in April 2021, by way of SI 209/2021, that the Fees (€125 per table) for businesses that placed street furniture on the public street outside their premises would be waived for the remainder of the year.
A year later, in May 2022, the same Minister signed a new Statutory Instrument (SI 249/2022) once again directing that the fees be waived, until year end – Dec 31, 2022.
Same happened in 2023 and again in 2024, when SI 256/2023 and SI 196/2024 were signed on 22 May and 09 May respectively, waiving the street furniture fees for the remainder of the respective calendar years.
This year, in May, newly appointed Minister James Browne TD announced via a Gov.ie Press release his intention to waive fees “for 2025”, and that Regulations to give effect to this would be brought before the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee “shortly”.
In both the Dáil and Seanad this week, motions were agreed to allow the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Planning, Local Government and Heritage discuss and give approval to the waiving of fees for the remainder of 2025.
CSNA sought the views of other representative bodies on how their members were affected by this decision coming so late in the year and were amazed to hear of the aggressive and confrontational tactics employed by several Local Authorities when trying to collect in January to May of each year. These tactics included taking furniture away until bills were paid and suggesting, after the SI’s were signed, that a credit may be applied onto their account.
There are a number of issues here
If the Minister really and truly wishes to help our sectors, make next week’s motion one that lasts until at least December 2026, or 17 months hence, rather than to the end of this year.
Second, all businesses that have paid their local authorities in 2025 for street furniture fees should have a direct credit payment made into their bank account for the unexpired portion of 2025 that is due to become a €0 fee.
Otherwise, the Minister will be seen as making hollow and meaningless gestures to the hard-pressed businesses that we represent.
Minister Browne signals intention to waive street furniture fees for restaurants for 2025
The Association has written to the chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage Mr. Michael Carrigy TD outlining our views on how next weeks motion can be made better and more meaningful for businesses with street furniture.
Deputy,
I note that your Committee has been directed by way of Motions from both Dáil and Seanad Eireann to consider a draft motion from Minister Browne to the effect of waiving fees for street furniture to the end of 2025.
I’m providing you with an article that has been circulated by CSNA to our members today calling for a more meaningful resolution.
The problem stems from the fact that all local authorities are free to pursue payment at the start of the year, given that these waivers have only come into force in May (with the exception of 30 April in 2021.
Make it a real concession and make the waiver for the entirety of 2026 as well as the remaining portion of 2025, and allow for a mechanism to pay back the unexpired portion of the fees already paid in 2025.
Kind regards,
Vincent Jennings
CEO
CSNA
