Retail Excellence has said that it members very much welcome the publication of the Governments Reopening Roadmap.
'It provides clarity to all retail members as to when they can reopen and re-employ their colleagues.' the group said in a statement.
'A number of measures need to be implemented as quickly as possible to ensure that as many of the businesses and jobs as possible in the Industry are preserved,' it added.
The proposed measures include:
Measure 1:
Establishment of a Government backed commercial rent grant scheme equal to 60% of the rent and service charge cost during the emergency period.
The cost of this measure to the Exchequer is estimated at €330 million for a 3-month period.
Measure 2:
The permanent cancellation of all Local Authority rates for all impacted businesses for a 12-month period.
The cost to the Exchequer of this measure is estimated at €730 million for a 12-month cancellation.
Measure 3:
The implementation of liquidity supports for retail businesses and speedy and simplified implementation of these supports by the banks.
Measure 4:
The distribution of a gift card of €500 to all Irish households which can only be spent in town and city centres and will be zero balanced after a fixed window of time.
The estimated cost to the State would be €850 million.
Measure 5:
The implementation of a back to work scheme such as a “Jobs Bridge” type initiative to reemploy the highest possible proportion of our retail industry colleagues who have been temporarily laid off.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
