Shortage of Chefs has now reached crisis levels, and threatens the success of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, says the RAI in its pre-Budget submission. It claims that 5,000 Chefs are required each year from 2017 to 2020 to meet the needs of the industry.

A freeze in the minimum wage until 2021 is recommended in order to preserve the competitiveness of the Restaurant sector.The submission wants the 9% VAT to  be retained until 2021 to ensure continued job growth in tourism and hospitality.

Cost of doing business; Budget 2017 should reduce the cost of government imposed red-tape on business, in part by streamlining regulatory enforcement activities out of a merger and rationalization of existing structures and agencies.

An investigation into the factors that are driving insurance costs higher needs to be undertaken and measures introduced to alleviate those pressures and make insurance affordable for individuals and for business.

The RAI is calling for €1 Reduction in Excise Duty on a bottle of wine and a 15% reduction in excise duty on beer and spirits.

It also wants  investment invest in tourism and Ireland’s Lakeland