Hoteliers book to the future

tion to the overall economy.

ICT jobs generate the largest amount of income tax per employee — around 2.5 times the average worker — helping to maintain income tax revenue during the pandemic as other sectors shut down.

But corporation tax was particularly “sensitive” to pro tability in the sector, the Central Bank said, with the share of the corporation tax take paid by ICT rms doubling in the last decade.

“Corporation tax revenue is sensitive to developments a ecting speci c rms, or a small number of rms, in the sector,” the Central Bank report said.

“If pro tability were to decline in large ICT rms, it is possible that tax revenue would be negatively a ected through a reduction in corporation tax, while PAYE and USC would be lower if weaker ICT performance passes through to sta ng levels and salaries.” e report found that the overall scal impact of a downturn would be “larger” due to ICT’s links with other sectors of the economy.

Gardai to hold ‘day of action’

e Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) will hold what it has called a “day of action” next Monday, March 1, in a longrunning dispute with Garda management over proposed new rosters.

e AGSI has also not ruled out the possibility of strikes should the dispute not be resolved.

e revised rostering system is opposed by the vast majority of Gardaí including the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the AGSI.

Mobile mast future with plan board

e fate of an existing telecoms tower in Kilkenny will now be decided by An Bord Pleanála. Meteor Mobile Communications Limited are seeking to retain a 25 metre high telecommunications support structure at Murtaghstown, Co. Kilkenny. eir application for retention was originally approved by Kilkenny County Council, but that decision has since been appealed to the national planning body. A decision on the mast is expected in June.

Windfarm plans are in the air

and building on progress made in the second half of 2022 with 54% of hotels and guesthouses planning to increase employment levels this year.

Ms Campbell said: “At the heart of every successful hotel and guesthouse are its people, and supporting and developing them is key to our long-term success. We are encouraging people of all ages to consider a career in the hotel sector. ere are an enormous variety of career paths and training opportunities that are constantly evolving in our sector. It is an ideal time given the wide range of exciting options available for people at every stage of their working lives.”

Ms Campbell noted that, since the lifting of restrictions in 2022, the industry had achieved a remarkable restoration in employment with over 250,000 livelihoods now supported by tourism businesses throughout the country including 60,000 employed directly by Irish hotels and guesthouses. Meanwhile 85% of hotels are planning to invest in refurbishment and additional capital expenditure over the coming year – making up for lost ground since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.