Elderly publicans use pensions to stay afloat
Many are concerned they won’t be able to survive
MICHAEL O’DONOVAN YESTERDAY
PUBLICANS over the age of 66 are using their weekly pensions to pay bills as they cannot get the Covid Payment, it has emerged.
Michael O’donovan, chairman of the Cork city branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, told the Irish Mirror many publicans in rural areas are over the age of 66.
Because of this, they are unable to qualify for the Covid-19 payment.
Many fear they will soon be forced to shut down the pubs that have been in their families for generations and play a vital role in their local communities.
Mr O’donovan, whose pub the Castle Inn in Cork city remains closed, said: “A lot of the people who are over 66 have paid all their life into taxation and PRSI contributions for both themselves and staff.
“But during the pandemic they were not entitled to claim the Covid Payment of €350 per week.
“Instead, many of them had to survive on their pension of €230 per week and they had to keep their own houses and all the bills for the bar out of that payment.
“Many would be eating into their personal savings and a lot of them are concerned that they won’t have sufficient funds to survive unless the Government put a substantial package together to help the rural pubs survive through next year.”
Joe Mellett, who was born in his pub nearly 70 years ago, does not qualify for the Covid-19 payment because of his age.
He said he and many other rural publicans are spending their pension payments as well as “the rainy day fund” on their bills. Mellett’s
Emporium in Swinford, Co Mayo, was established in 1797, and in those 223 years has never had to close before the pandemic.
Mr Mellett’s daughter Marie will be the seventh generation of publicans in the family to take over at the helm when her father steps down – but she will face an uncertain future.
Mr Mellett said: “I’m lucky enough to be over 66 and unlucky to be in this situation.
“The running costs of a pub in rural Ireland is about €350 a week, including insurance, light and heat, water, pest control and the pub licence. So even if I got the Covid €350 it would be entirely gone.
“You don’t have to be a mathematician to see that there’s €350 going out and €230 coming in with the pension.
“That’s gone and the rainy day fund is gone.”