RGDATA, the representative association for the owners of 3,500 shops, convenience stores and supermarkets, has provided its comments on Budget 2017, welcoming the tax and income measures for putting ‘more money in people’s pockets’. RGDATA states that money spent on Irish goods is worth four times more to local communities. It also notes the Government has not increased taxes on alcohol, but has added 50 cent to the price of a packet of cigarettes.
The group also approved of the measures which support Town Centre Revitalisation and policies to get more people back living in Town Centres, and commented that it ‘welcomes the additional investment in Rural Regeneration and will be seeking a small portion of this to be spent on Town Centre Health Checks, developing Town Plans and the development of National Town Centre Management strategic support services’.
The association also acknowledged the investment in the extension of high speed Broadband across the country, as well as the recruitment of additional Gardaí in order to combat crime.
Concerning the sugar tax, RGDATA remarked that there will be a public consultation on the introduction of a tax on sugar sweetened drinks and it will consult with its members for its submission.
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