Sell out attendance at Chamber Budget breakfast hosted in Crowne Plaza Hotel
Dundalk Chamber of Commerce has expressed disappointment that two items which they had lobbied for were not included in the Budget 2019.
PRO Paddy Malone noted that their submission had called for Living City status to be given to Dundalk and Drogheda and the other key towns identified in the National Develpopment Plan and for the introduction of a graduated rates relief programme based on proximity to border.
The key points of the Budget were explored at the Chambers’s annual Budget Breakfast in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Sponsored by PayPal, the event was a sell out with around 200 attendees from financial, professional and the wider business community venturing out early to hear speaker Niall O Lideadha Senior Manager with Ernst & Young unravel the complexities of the budget.
From a business perspective, the main points of the Budget were the restoration of the 13.5% VAT rate; the marginal reduction in USC; the increase in minimum wage; the increase in 20% tax band; the increase in the earned income credit. There were no significant changes in ‘ the old reliables’ and no carbon tax changes.
Paddy Malone was critical re the increase to 13.5% on the hospitality sector. Tourist numbers from UK and NI were already down. He hoped that the money given to Bord Failte to counteract BREXIT will be spent in the Border region. He also welcome the increased funding available to the LEO, saying that the chamber is looking forward to working