CAMRA NI responds to Stormont Budget for 2020/21

Commenting to yesterday’s Budget statement by Conor Murphy MLA, Chair of CAMRA NI Ruth Sloan said: 

“The Campaign for Real Ale welcomes today’s reduction in Business Rates in conjunction with the three month business rates holiday for pubs as a result of the Coronavirus shutdown.

“We hope that when the Executive comes to allocate the rest of the £812 million of Covid-19 funding they will give pubs a year-long holiday from paying Business Rates, as has happened in England.

“Pubs are vital spaces in our local communities offering a place for safe, supervised consumption of alcohol as well as being a key part of efforts to tackle loneliness and social isolation.

“One of the things people are looking forward to when all this is over is going to the pub to meet friends and family. Not only do we need to make sure that locals can re-open once the coronavirus restrictions are lifted, we need to make sure they can stay alive in the years ahead.

“That’s why the Finance Minister should consider year-round help with the burden of business rates to reflect the unique role pubs play in our society and to help keep them open and thriving.”