Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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160. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are available for small business owners to offset the costs arising from the new February bank holiday, be they loss of income from closure of business or the payment of double time wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18968/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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From next year the Government is introducing a new permanent public holiday in celebration of Imbolc/St. Brigid’s day. This will be the first Monday in every February, except where St. Brigid’s day, the 1st day of February, happens to fall on a Friday, in which case that Friday 1st February will be a public holiday. The Governments want to ensure that the public holiday provides for a long weekend. The first St. Brigid’s day public holiday will be Monday 6th February 2023.

This will raise the public holidays in Ireland to 10, bringing us more into line with other member states where the numbers range from 8 to 15 days. While there are costs involved, there is no compensation for employers for any public holidays. However, there are also many benefits to the economy, as an additional public holiday helps to stimulate spending throughout the country, particularly in businesses operating in the tourism, entertainment, recreation and hospitality sectors.