Easing of restrictions Welcome

30th March 2021

Good news for society, local economy must wait a bit longer

That the public health situation now supports a cautious easing of restrictions announced today is good news, but we must take note that at the start of this month, there were still over 6,500 in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in Offaly.

This is not confined Retail, Hospitality and Construction, but spans at least 16 other business sectors. The plan must provide viable business will supports to recover, especially noting it is now 2023 before the country gets back to pre-COVID unemployment levels.  The Governments plan for Rural Ireland announced this week contains much to help our recovery, but for business impacted locally by COVID, we are in a situation that requires continued tactical responses and support.

A reopening plan for society and the economy must focus on ‘data, not dates’ to take a leaf from the British governments book.

While data has gotten us in to each lockdown, we have never had clarity on what levels of virus cases, incidence rates and vaccinations will allow us move through the Living With Covid Levels. We are three months into a lock-down with without any clarity on what the re-opening criteria are.