Kilkenny tourism businesses invited to apply for €26 million restart fund

Kilkenny businesses involved in tourism and hospitality are being invited to apply for grants to cover the costs incurred in adapting their premises or operations for re-opening.

Fáilte Ireland’s €26million COVID-19 Adaptation Fund is available to tourism businesses implementing Fáilte Ireland’s Guidelines for re-opening  and estimates 12,000 businesses nationwide will be eligible to apply for funding.

Tourism Minister, Catherine Martin launched the fund to help tourism and hospitality businesses offset costs involved in erecting barriers, protective screens, the development of outdoor areas, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitiser will be covered.

“This investment of €26million is another key action the Government has taken to support and sustain the tourism sector at this critical time,” Minister Martin said.

The COVID-19 Adaptation Fund is the third step in Fáilte Ireland’s approach to re-opening to provide a financial contribution towards the costs incurred by tourism businesses as they implement Fáilte Ireland’s Guidelines for Re-opening.

Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland: “The tourism industry is at the core of our economy, supporting regional development and job creation in communities across the country.

“Our focus is on sustaining and supporting the tourism sector through this crisis,” Mr Kelly concluded.

Eligible businesses can apply for the COVID-19 Adaptation Fund until October 8, 2020.