Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister of State for coming in and congratulate her on her new role. I think it is her first time to the Seanad in that role. It will probably not be any busier a role than when she was Chair of an Oireachtas committee. It was a pretty hectic committee and she managed it very well, so I am sure she will manage this role very well.

The cost-of-doing-business crisis is having a severe effect on small businesses across the city, particularly small independent coffee shops, cafes and restaurants. They have been hit with higher energy costs, higher food costs, higher labour costs and higher rent. As if all of this was not enough, the council comes around and picks their pockets with extortionate rates in exchange for little in terms of services. Small businesses urgently need support if we want them to stay afloat and contribute to our communities.

Likewise, workers need support given the out of control cost-of-living crisis. The average wage is not enough to comfortably live in Dublin and there is a huge level of job insecurity in the service sector in this city. That is a very important point to consider when it comes to supporting small businesses. We need an approach that does not pit businesses against workers but, rather, enables businesses and workers to work together, side by side. Small businesses are facing an inhospitable environment and too often workers are being asked to pay the price. Action needs to be taken to ensure businesses are not unfairly squeezed and ordinary people are not caught up in the crunch.

The reality is businesses feel like they are being robbed just to try to comply with the regulations from State agencies and planning regulations. For instance, today is a beautiful day outside. The public seating areas are all jammed, yet outdoor seating is severely limited in Dublin. When one goes through any of its little towns or villages or through the city centre, one can see there are real limitations on the number of seating opportunities in Dublin. This is primarily because of the arbitrary fees and obstacles imposed on businesses by Dublin City Council. To place a table and seats on the footpath outside a coffee shop or restaurant, the biggest cost is renting the space from the council, with fees of thousands of euro and a very drawn-out planning application process that includes putting up a site notice and placing a notice in the newspaper, all for a few seats outside. It does not make any sense. We should bear in mind that outdoor seating is next to useless for half the year, given we are living in Ireland and it rains for half the year. However, traders, businesses, restaurants and coffee shops must pay for the full year. There needs to be more flexibility in terms of how businesses can avail of outdoor seating.

Coffee shops simply cannot afford to have outdoor seating or do not want to deal with the hassle, so they scrap the plans. One needs not go further than Rathmines to see loads of places that are empty which could have lovely public seating. They were there during Covid, but when the pandemic was over, the council got rid of the free access to these places and it is just too expensive now. These seating areas could add a nice buzz to the local community, and it is the city’s loss. Ernesto's cafe in Rathmines has a few tables for people to drink coffee and have a rest. It is a lovely shop and is very involved in the local community. It does so many positive community initiatives. However, Ernesto's is being robbed and crushed by these extortionate charges. Ernesto's had to pay €4,500 for space to place tiny little tables that you get in Ikea. The tables are hardly bigger than these seats here. Ernesto's has three or four of those and had to pay €4,500 a year, just for a few tables. For most of the year the cafe cannot use them, given the weather. That means it is paying €4,500 for six months. That is extortionate. That is picking small businesses’ pockets. Ernesto's is a small family business that contributes a great deal to the community and yet it seems like there is an attempt to milk every cent out of these local traders, irrespective of the effect it may have on the business or its customers. Reducing and waiving these fees partially is not just going to support businesses, it will support the city and the community. The council and the State agencies are not supporting local businesses, and they need to do so. That is the reality.

Another example is the long-running issue for businesses on Mount Street, which is very close to here. There are barriers still up. Honestly, it looks like a ghetto. These Mount Street businesses have been carrying on. There were tents outside their premises for 18 months. The barriers are still there, and they are trying to run a business. It is almost impossible. Local businesses like Mamma Mia have seen their turnover fall off a cliff but Dublin City Council still expects them to pay rates. They are still being charged. Ultimately, the council waived the fees for the outdoor seating because there was no point in them having outdoor seating. Nobody was going to sit at them beside a tent and a fire. It is very unfair on businesses. The Mount Street residents have been abandoned by the Government. Businesses have been abandoned by the Government and this problem is not of the businesses’ making. They should not have to pay the price. There needs to be some flexibility to allow small businesses such as coffee shops, pizza places and fruit and vegetable shops to be able to function. That is not the case. The State's policy has failed and the small businesses seem to be left to pick up the pieces..