Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. The cost of doing business is challenging for everybody. No even the Government would deny that. Is is challenging, particularly for smaller businesses. I have raised an issue before in this House about schemes right across the country. Different local authorities have different schemes for street furniture licensing. The Minister for housing has waived the fees for tables and chairs in the areas outside the retail unit. That, of course, is very welcome. However, the section of the scheme that is not waived is probably the most burdensome for small businesses, and that is for retail units. Other local authority areas have different schemes for outdoor seating but the small businesses feel like they are having their pockets picked by the local authorities. That there really needs to be an intervention by the Minister is clear when you look at the charges. The application itself for a street furniture licence consists of ten different actions. First, businesses have to complete the application form which is not too bad. They also, and this is for small businesses that are not coining it and may have two or three employees, have to put an ad in the newspaper, put a photograph of the premises with site notice in situ; have evidence that food is sold on the premises; evidence of an intoxicating liquor licence if applicable; and details of screens proposed to enclose in the licensed area. They then have to have a 1:100 scale drawing of the area to be licensed, including the width of the footpath. People need a professional to help you through that process because it is challenging.

They also have to have details of cleaning and maintenance schedules; details of proposed street furniture; a site location map; e-tax clearance certificate, which obviously is not an issue; and then for all of that, they have to pay €100. If the council grants the licence, there are four different zones. Up to 4 sq. m - which would probably take up one table - you have to pay €200 per metre, and above that, it is €400 per square metre. Then of course that goes up for the city centre pedestrianised street where it is €200 per square metre. It goes up to €500 per square metre over the first 4 sq. m. Therefore, it is extremely expensive to have any sort of street furniture. I gave an example previously of Ernesto's coffee shop in Rathmines. It has a couple of tables. It does not use them for outdoor dining. These are really for people who come for a coffee and gives them space in the coffee shop. People drink their coffee outside and it frees up room inside in the café for people to dine or have a quick bite. That is replicated right across the city. The café owner has to pay €4,500 for a couple of very small tables per year, which is a ridiculous price given that due to the Irish weather, he will only be able to use them for three or four months of the year anyway. He is already facing higher energy costs and increased ingredient and staff costs. It all adds up to a fairly hefty figure at the end of the year. It is €4,500 for a couple of small seats. As I mentioned before, the same is happening in other places. The council installed a protected seating area for diners but the retail units cannot use it because it is too expensive. There needs to be a kind of uniformity around the schemes. I know in Galway they have a much more flexible one where you can get a licence for a month or two, but Dublin City Council appears to be pickpocketing small businesses. That is very harsh and unfair on small business and it is something that needs to be factored into any thinking by the Government.

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