BUDGET 2016: ‘Little to allay concerns of small business’

Despite saving shop owners around €36m in annual fees by halving the costs they must pay on accepting card payments and introducing a tax credit for the self-employed, the Government has been criticised for not going far enough to ease the cost burden on the retail sector.

“The reality on the ground is that many of the country’s small businesses continue to struggle with the legacy impacts of the recession,” said Peter Steemers of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents.

“The new measures have resulted in the Government giving with one hand, with tax credits for the self-employed, and taking with the other hand, by increasing the minimum wage and adding 50c to the price of cigarettes.”