Galway City Council intends to waive fees for Tables and Chairs Licences as a measure to help the hospitality sector get back on its feet.
Restaurants and other businesses in the hospitality sector will be allowed to let customers back inside from next week, when Phase 3 of the roadmap out of lockdown begins.
However even then businesses will be operating at a reduced capacity, as they will be required to implement social distancing guidelines.
Licence fees are being waived for a total of six months to reduce the burden on businesses as part of the Galway City Council Mobility Team Implementation Plan.
This waiver covers 3 months where businesses were not in operation, and three months until the end of September 2020.
While the fees are being waived, the regular terms and conditions that come with the licence still apply.
This should even help businesses which don’t reopen before the end of September, as they will be able to seek credit towards their licence at the end of that period.
Covid-19 Temporary Licensing predominantly applies to those premises whose primary use is for the selling of food/ drink, which already provide seating and tables inside the premises, and on the ground floor, for the purposes of consumption of food/drink, and do not already hold a Section 254 licence.
Eligible businesses wishing to apply for a licence for tables and chairs outside their premises can now apply for a short-term COVID-19 Licence, with no charge for the duration of licence, a maximum 3 months.
This short term licence will operate until the end of September 2020. Applicants are required to demonstrate that public liability is in place, and must comply with the licence guidelines.
Applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis, with respect to the impact of the licence on neighbouring properties and the operation of the street; queuing of customers; and the safe passage of pedestrians and mobility impaired.
Applications for licences are now open, with application forms available from www.galwaycity.ie/mobilityteam .
