Independent food/convenience retailers cannot afford to fund all the Government’s increased employment costs: RGDATA

Independent food/convenience retailers cannot afford to fund all the Government’s increased employment costs: RGDATA delegation tells Fine Gael Parliamentary Party

Local family owned essential shops need targeted supports like reduced Employers PRSI, a return to Vat9 for deli and hot beverage sales, a special scheme for full time students working part-time in stores and support to pay for replacement staff when others are on sick leave. These were some of the measures the RGDATA delegation led by President Colin Fee urged the TDs and Senators to ensure are included in Budget 2025. Retail Crime, Sustainability & Carbon reduction and securing the future of local family owned shops were also raised.

RGDATA also meets Sinn Fein to highlight challenges facing local food/convenience shops and supermarkets

An RGDATA delegation also met Sinn Fein Enterprise spokesperson Louise O’Reilly to outline the significant additional costs local shops are dealing with and call for support for the seven targeted measures to assist local essential family owned shops to RGDATA’s 2025 Budget submission. The delegation led by President Colin Fee with Rachel, Twomey, Annie Timothy and Tara Buckley had a wide ranging discussion with Ms O’Reilly about the challenges facing convenience retailers in relation to costs, crime and dealing with all the new employment and sustainability measures.