Council introduces economic stimulus measures for 2021

The Council is encouraging local hospitality and tourism providers to apply for grant funding under Fáilte Ireland’s new Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme aimed at assisting the sector in increasing their outdoor dining capacity.

Grants of up to €4,000 are available under the Outdoor Dining Enhancement and Accessories for Tourism and Hospitality Business strand of the Scheme. The grants will facilitate greater capacity in outdoor dining by supporting hospitality businesses to upgrad and enhance venues and public spaces and implement weather-proofing solutions to facilitate year-round outdoor dining. 

Costs for outdoor tables, chairs, umbrellas, electric heaters, screens, wind breaks, plant stands and wooden platforms will be covered under the Scheme. Expenditure must be incurred between April 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021. Applications can now be made via https://www.fingal.ie/outdoordiningsupports.

Businesses using the Outdoor Dining Grant to place furniture in the public realm must also apply for a Street Furniture Licence by emailing [email protected] with details of their plans. A consultation will be arranged to ensure compliance with relevant regulations prior to the issuing of the licence. There is currently no fee for Street Furniture Licences under COVID-19 measures to support businesses.

The Council’s Parklet Partners scheme proved popular with residents across Fingal last year and the introduction of parklets in several locations allowed businesses to offer outdoor dining and continue trading.

Parklets convert on-street parking spaces (excluding accessible, age-friendly and loading bay spaces) into public open space to accommodate dining and additional seating in accordance with public health guidance. They are a cost-effective way to create more vibrant streets, support local business, and provide an inviting space for residents and passers-by to dine and relax.

Businesses who have parking space outside of their premises are encouraged to apply for this initiative.

Applications for the 2021 scheme are open now and interested businesses should submit their completed application forms by May 28, 2021 to [email protected] . The application form and further details on the scheme is available at https://www.fingal.ie/outdoordiningsupports

The Council is also launching a new Shopfront and Main Street Residences Painting and Improvement Scheme for 2021 which seeks to improve the streetscape and the public realm of Main Streets in towns and villages throughout Fingal. Property owners of shops and residents on the Main Streets of all towns and villages in County Fingal are eligible to apply for funding under this Scheme which provides funding for painting and improvements to existing frontages along the Main Street and the cores of towns and villages in Fingal.

Applications for the 2021 scheme are open now and interested businesses should submit their completed application forms by the May 28, 2021 to [email protected] . The application form and further details on the scheme is available at www.fingal.ie/business.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy, said: “The introduction of initiatives like parklets proved very popular last year with businesses and residents alike and creating outdoor dining spaces in the public realm will help to bring people back into our town centres and create footfall that will also be to benefit of other businesses in the area.”

Cllr Tony Murphy, Chair of the Economic Enterprise and Tourism Development Strategic Policy Committee, said: “Businesses are working closely with  Fingal County Council and I encourage everybody to support local businesses as that will help in retaining jobs in our local communities.”

Businesses are also reminded that this Wednesday, April 21, is the closing date for the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) which is intended to target those businesses with operating costs that do not qualify for the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated by the Revenue Commissioners. Further details and the application form are available from: https://www.fingal.ie/small-business-assistance-scheme-covid-sbasc.

Emer O’Gorman, Director of Economic Enterprise Tourism and Cultural Development, said: “Businesses continue to require support and Fingal County Council is committed to doing what it can to ensure our local economy weathers the current storm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”