Mr. Adrian Cummins:

In 2013 we engaged with the MOMENTUM initiative, a good project, which dealt with long-term unemployment. At the time, it came out of the training centre in Finglas and we trained 100 chefs but the Department stopped funding it. If we had got extra funding, we would have continued with the project. I take the point about ensuring we have exhausted all efforts.

In Dublin city centre, €500,000 is raised from businesses through the outside seating charges but it only costs €100,000 to administer, meaning a €400,000 profit is made by Dublin City Council. We have asked the council to look at reducing the charges to ensure more businesses will create a café-style culture in the city centre, which we are being encouraged to do by the tourism authorities. However, these charges are prohibitive in doing that. A report was made recommending a reduction in outdoor seating charges but the council did not take it up.