Call to give free €200 vouchers to Kilkenny residents to boost local businesses

A Kilkenny TD has called for local residents to be given a free €200 hospitality voucher as part of an initiative to boost local businesses when the economy reopens.

Deputy Kathleen Funchion has urged the Government to introduce a stimulus scheme to provide a much-needed boost to hospitality and recreation as lockdown restrictions ease.

Under the scheme each adult would receive a €200 voucher, and every child a €100 voucher, to spend in local businesses that provide hospitality or recreation services.

Deputy Funchion said: “Last summer, Sinn Féin launched a proposal to boost local economies across Ireland through a hospitality and recreation stimulus package.

“Our detailed and fully-costed plan would give workers and families a break by putting money back in their pockets, while also boosting local economies through increased spending in local tourism and hospitality.

“Our scheme would allocate a voucher worth €200 to every adult and €100 for every child to be spent locally in hospitality or on recreation.

“This would mean families could have a day out at the zoo, a meal in a restaurant or put the voucher towards a holiday,” Deputy Funchion added.