€500,000 funding for new outdoor dining infrastructure in Waterford

Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomes the announcement of over €500,000 funding for new outdoor dining infrastructure in Waterford City and County under part two of the Fáilte Ireland Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme . The funding which will deliver €151,774 to Grattan Square in Dungarvan and €354,919 to the Waterford City Trail (taking in Bailey’s New Street to O’Connell Street/John Street) was announced by Minister for Tourism, Catherine Martin TD and it will be used to create a weather proof solution to facilitate year-round outdoor dining areas. Fáilte Ireland’s Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme opened for applications in March 2021 and comprises two parts.  Today’s announcement relates to Part Two of the Scheme. Speaking after the announcement, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said:

“This is very welcome funding for the city and Dungarvan as it will help extend the tourism season in both areas as well as providing year-round, safe outdoor dining options for locals. During the pandemic, outdoor dining became the norm due to public health restrictions and it played a significant role in sustaining local businesses. It is now a year-round option for the hospitality sector and we need to support businesses in facilitating this.”

“The first part of this scheme provided individual businesses with grants of up to €4,000 towards developing their outdoor seating areas. This round of funding will be used in areas where a collective of businesses will avail of the facilities – similar to schemes we are used to seeing in other European cities. It will be spent on seating, screening and shelter and it will help hospitality businesses towards a sustainable recovery as restrictions continue to lift. It will also have a significant impact on the wider local economy of both Waterford City and Dungarvan as other businesses will benefit from the extension to the tourism season that this will bring.”

Green Party Local Rep for Dungarvan, Críostóir Ó Faoláin added:

“The provision of outdoor dining space in Grattan Square, Dungarvan over the summer has been a huge success, providing a much-needed lifeline to businesses struggling to survive the pandemic. This additional funding will help keep customers warm and sheltered as they dine outdoors year-round, and will make Dungarvan a must visit destination this winter.”

Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme

The Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme is a €17million scheme announced in March 2021. The scheme is in two parts and today’s announcement relates to Part Two of the Scheme.

Part Two of the Scheme covers Weatherproofing & Outdoor Dining Infrastructure.  

This will support Local Authorities to upgrade and enhance streets and public spaces and implement weather-proofing solutions which will facilitate year-round outdoor dining in urban tourism centres. This element of the Scheme will facilitate medium-large scale, weather-proofed dining areas for a collective of businesses in a single zone/street, similar to those that exist in various European cities.  Each Local Authority can apply for €200,000 for up to 2 locations, with additional funding being made available subject to the quality and economic value of the proposals.  Permanent robust and design-appropriate weatherproofing structures, including parasols, electric heaters, wind breakers/screens and associated enabling works to accommodate these interventions on a long-term basis will be included.  Roof structures and awnings will be considered subject to planning requirements being adhered to.  Key is that these remedial works will increase the outdoor dining capacity within our cities and towns, whilst also ensuring the safety of diners and pedestrians.

Part One of the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme covers Outdoor Seating and Accessories.

This is open to individual tourism and hospitality businesses where food is sold for consumption on the premises including hotels, attractions, cafes, restaurants and pubs. Local Authorities will administer the Scheme through their internal business perspective and processes.  All applicants will be required to comply with planning codes, legislative and other compliance requirements. The Scheme aims to expand on the work done in 2020 by Local Authorities in supporting businesses and will support individual independent hospitality and tourism businesses towards the cost of equipment to provide additional outdoor seating and facilitate these businesses to increase their outdoor dining capacity for the summer of 2021.  Applicants can apply for a grant of up to €4,000 (up to 75% of the ex-VAT cost of equipment purchased/installed). Costs for outdoor tables, chairs, umbrellas, electric heaters, screens/windbreaks, plant stands and wooden platforms will be covered under the Scheme.   Expenditure must be incurred between 1st April 2020 and 30th September 2021 and the scheme will open for applications on April 12th 2021 through Local Authority websites.