General Election: Candidate for Tipperary South told 'small businesses are struggling'
A local hairdresser in Dundrum met Mattie McGrath while canvassing and voiced her concerns about small businesses struggling due to the high VAT rate
One week before the election, General Election candidate Mattie McGrath spoke with locals on the street in Dundrum while canvassing about the issues small businesses face.
The struggles that small businesses face were felt by many in Dundrum town. We went into Claire’s Hair Salon in the town and spoke with Claire about what the struggles are for small businesses. Claire said that small businesses are definitely struggling due to the higher VAT rate.
“I think it should be brought back down to 9% from the current 13.5%” said Claire who has had her business for 21 years.
She noticed a recent trend in more people getting their hair done in peoples homes instead of hairdressers and said that this was hurting business but she understands why.
Services are more expensive due to the higher VAT rate for hairdressers and people visit hairdressers shops less often as a result.
If the VAT rate were lowered many small businesses would be able to stay open and instead we see many are closing their doors due to high running costs.