‘Need to act now for small businesses impacted by crisis’

THE government must act now to prevent the “wholesale failure of the small business sector” according to Cllr Gerard Mullaney.

The Fine Gael councillor called on the government to provide a stimulus package for the SME sector in order to safeguard the jobs the sector provides.

“SMEs not only provide vital employment at local level but are key to our social fabric and to the functioning of our communities,” Cllr Mullaney told the meeting.

“Small business lack scale and the related benefits scale brings to large business.

“As a result, they require specific policy interventions in a coordinated manner now not in six months. It will be too late then.

“The report Covid-19: Impact on our Region and Towns jointly published by the three regional assemblies highlighted the north west as the area most at risk of SME failure.

“Strandhill was ranked as the 2nd most at risk town in the country with over 70% of business likely to be affected post covid.

“The report estimates that there are over 1200 business in County Sligo that will be impacted negatively by Covid-19.

“Currently there are over 6000 workers receiving Covid wage supports in Sligo.

“We need to get as many as those workers as possible back to work as soon as possible.”

Supporting his party colleague, Cllr Thomas Walsh said a key component of the recovery of the sector would be a bailout.

He said businesses need to be able to access cash in a fast and efficient manner, and without the need to go through significant “red tape”.