A Sligo Restauranteur has pointed the finger of blame on Dublin hotels over the increase in VAT rate for the hospitality sector.
As part of Budget 2023, the rate is to increase from 9% to 13.5% from March of next year.
The Government had previously cut the raid paid by hospitality venues such as pubs, hotels and restaurants as Covid restrictions had an impact on their incomes.
However there have been warnings that increasing the VAT while such establishments face a current spike in energy bills could prove detrimental.
But Anthony Gray says it’s down to price gouging by hotels in the Capital over the summer: