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The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) has called for an injection of funding to address the “crisis” shortfall in chefs. Photo: iStock Photo

The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) has called for an injection of funding to address the “crisis” shortfall in chefs.

“An immediate training fund needs to be made available to employers so that the huge demand for chefs of all grades can be met," says RAI CEO Adrian Cummins.

A Pre-Budget Submission for 2015 launched by the RAI, proposes 1,000 workplace apprenticeships for the restaurant sector to address the lack of chefs. It also insists that the rate of Value Added Tax for the tourism and hospitality sectors, reduced from 13.5% to 9% in 2011, must be retained.

Mr Cummins said employment in the sector had increased by approximately 23,324 direct jobs and an additional 10,728 indirect jobs since the VAT cut . “This growth will continue if VAT at 9% remains in effect,” he argued.

The RAI has also suggested a reduction in excise duty. It argues that alcohol served with a meal should only be subject to the 9%, because the current rate of excise duty on alcohol served in restaurants makes Ireland unattractive compared to other European countries without duty on wine.

The organisation’s pre-budgetary proposals also included an easing of the regulatory burden on Small to Medium Enterprises, citing waste charges and annual rates as particularly problematic for restaurants.

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