The Restaurants Association of Ireland has stated that the government is not taking sufficient action to address the skills shortage currently being faced by the Irish hospitality sector.
As reported by The Irish Times, the association's CEO, Adrian Cummins, is calling for the establishment of a multi-agency forum to address the shortage. He is also calling for a reduction in visa waiting times for workers from outside of the EU, as well as tax incentives for restaurateurs in rent "pressure zones" who provide accommodation for staff. Additionally, he has urged the state to extend the payment of €5,000 bursaries to the hiring of female apprentice chefs.
National Skills Summit
Cummins suggested that a national skills summit or forum could draw together representatives from government departments and industry groups, and meet "a couple of times per year and set targets to be met".
© 2019 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
