Councillor says his parent’s rural Tipperary pub is among many that need tax relief to survive
A Tipperary councillor has called on the Government to introduce a tax relief for rural pubs, warning that the sector is “dying” as more establishments close.
Independent councillor Andy Moloney tabled the motion at the September meeting of Tipperary County Council, saying that, while the Government have good supports for new business, more needed to be done to help businesses that are already established.
Cllr Moloney, whose parents own a pub in Poulmucka, said that the pub trade is dying, and that incentives should be given to help families and business people keep their doors open.
“My mother and father have their doors open 60 years next year, still trading at 85 years of age, and we’re trying to keep things going.
“I see a lot of community pubs try to start up, and they’re getting all sorts of grants, but if we had to put in a disability toilet, we wouldn’t get a penny for it,” Cllr Moloney said.
“There’s no supports whatsoever, so while we’re trying to set up and maintain new rural pubs, there’s no incentive to keep the ones that are there, open. In the last 20 years, pub licences have decreased by 25pc,” he said.
Cllr Moloney said the issue went beyond alcohol sales, arguing that the closure of rural pubs was contributing to loneliness and isolation across Tipperary.
“This has a knock-on effect to the whole social and rural fabric, and social inclusion,” he said.
“The pub can be the only outlet people have, and if the rural pub goes, some people will never again go outside their door,” Cllr Moloney added.
Moloney’s Bar in Poulmucka. © Google Maps
Seconding his motion, Sinn Féin councillor David Dunne said that rural pubs are the heartbeat of communities across the county.
“In rural areas, everything is run in the pubs. It’s the meetings, it’s everything that’s happening, and it’s not all about drink,” he said.
Transport is another issue impacting the rural pub, Cllr Dunne said, which is another thing that needs to be addressed.
“We need to look at transport. You can’t even chance having one pint or even a glass and driving, and I wouldn’t say anyone should, but sometimes Local Link only comes at certain times, so maybe there should be some way of subsidising taxis or something,” the Sinn Féin councillor said.
“If we do that, rural pubs would have more of a chance of staying in business,” he added.