Budget 2024: RGDATA urges retailers to make voices heard to local TDs
"Retailers remain concerned at the stubbornly high level of some core input costs," says RGDATA director general Tara Buckley
Print28 September 2023
Independent retailers’ association RGDATA is urging all members to tell their local TDs about the challenges they are facing in their stores, as the government finalises the package of measures to be included in Budget 2024 which will be unveiled on 10 October.
RGDATA says it is continuing to focus on getting the message out loud and clear to government that Budget 2024 needs to include support for independent retailers who are facing unprecedented increases in wage costs due to government initiatives in relation to proposed minimum wage increases, sick pay increases, extra public holiday and pension auto-enrolment.
“The operating environment for Ireland’s independent retail grocery sector remains challenging at present,” said RGDATA director general Tara Buckley. “Inflationary and cost of living pressures are directly impacting on consumers leading to reduced consumer confidence and lower expenditure levels. Retailers and businesses are also having to manage sharply increased input costs. Retailers remain concerned at the stubbornly high level of some core input costs – energy and insurance costs in particular have not shown the level of decrease that might be expected given the underlying changes in the factors impacting on both sectors.”
The key elements of RGDATA’s detailed Budget submission encompass the following areas:
1. SME supports for dealing with increased costs
2. Funding for increased Garda activity and the Justice System
3. Town Centre First/urban regeneration/accommodation for retail workers living over the shop
4. No increases in Excise
5. Moratorium on State imposed cost increases
RGDATA members can read the association’s full Budget submission here.
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