Plans to revisit Vat rate for hospitality sector 'too little too late'

The Government's apparent plans to revisit the Vat rate for the hospitality sector is too little too late for many closed local restaurants and cafes in the North West. That's according to the Donegal Chair of the Irish Hotels Federation, Paul Diver who has been reacting to reports that a reduced VAT rate is now being considered to try to stem the tide of restaurant closures. The hospitality sector benefited from a 9 per cent VAT rate during the pandemic, but that went back up to 13 and a half per cent last September. Now, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says splitting the rate to help restaurants, pubs and cafes is "technically possible and warrants consideration". Speaking to Ocean FM news, Mr Diver is warning that there will be more closures unless something is done now: