Rural pubs set for €15m budget package

Senior Government sources confirmed funding would be provided to assist pubs, with the detail of the scheme to be worked out later.

The Government will tomorrow unveil a €15m support package for pubs, as budget talks go down to the wire.

Senior Government sources confirmed funding would be provided to assist pubs, with the detail of the scheme to be worked out later.

It follows a proposal from the Vintners Federation of Ireland, which called for a scheme to provide a tax rebate based on draught beer sold.

The matter was agreed at a meeting between Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and independent junior minister Seán Canney.

It is particularly focused on assisting small rural pubs, which did not receive support from last year’s Vat cut.

Enterprise minister Peter Burke had sought supports for rural pubs during the budget talks.