9% tourism VAT

LOuTH hoteliers have welcomed comments by Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin, TD, that she will continue to seek a further extension of the 9% VAT rate for the tourism and hospitality sector in Ireland. The tourism VAT rate, which is due to expire at the end February, is currently under review by the cabinet. In light of the growing economic challenges facing the sector, local hoteliers are urging the Government to retain the existing 9% rate to safeguard tourism livelihoods and secure the long-term, sustainable development of Irish tourism.

Prior to the pandemic, the tourism industry supported over 270,000 livelihoods nationally, including some 3,000 jobs throughout Louth, generating €90m in tourism revenues annually for the local economy.

With a full recovery in tourism now likely to be delayed until 2026, an increase in the VAT rate to 13.5% is the last thing that should be contemplated given its inflationary impact and the damage it would cause to Ireland’s tourism competitiveness. This would result in Irish consumers and overseas visitors having to pay the third highest tourism VAT rate in all of europe.

Against this backdrop, hotels and guesthouses are urging the Government to retain the 9% VAT rate at its current rate.

When We Never Had It So Good

In the days when we first went to primary school

We had a world made in Hollywood; Wild West heroes, the epitome of ‘cool’, And we’d never had it so good.

And as we watched the nineteen sixties unroll A glorious optimism rotated time’s spoke; The dance halls were full of rock ‘n roll

And we had the honest simplicity of folk.

We had dreams to dream; songs to sing

A world adults never quite understood, And all the promise the world was to bring.

And we’d never had it so good.

Now, aeons ago, the innocence we once knew Has been irretrievably lost along the way; Our grandchildren’s future, their looked forward to Buried in a morass of anxiety today.

By a seemingly never-ending coronavirus

And a planet now facing inevitable flood

A far cry from dreams which used to inspire us

When we’d never had it so good.

—Noel Sharkey.

DROGHeDA Institute of Further education (DIFe) is delighted to announce details of our 2023 Open Day 2023 on Thursday, 26th January (6.30pm – 8.30pm) and Friday, 27th January (9am – 4pm). The Open day will provide an opportunity for prospective students to discover what DIFe has to offer and the exciting options available in Drogheda Institute of Further education. Learners will be able to participate in campus tours to check out our state-of-the-art facilities, attend college presentations, chat to staff and current students, experience course demos, hear from our guidance team and enter competitions and givea- ways on the day.

Drogheda Institute is the largest Further education and Training (FeT) provider in the northeast Region, providing a wide range of PLC & Pre-university courses to school leavers and adults returning to education. The college has established itself as one of the leading Fe colleges in the country providing pathways to both higher education and employment. The college has been awarded Best Further education Provider in Ireland in 2020 and 2021 by The education Awards. DIFe offers a diverse range of fulltime courses with over 60 courses available at Level 5 and Level 6 on the national Framework of Qualifications across the following departments: Art, Design & Technology, Business Humanities & IT, Sports, Leisure & Tourism, Applied Science and Community & HealthCare

DIFe’s experienced teachers, unrivalled range of educational courses, diverse student population and state of the art campus makes the college an unparalleled environment for students to progress their education and take the next step to their future careers. An increasing number of students are choosing to study a one-year full time course in DIFe to enable them to upskill, gain relevant industry qualifications, work on obtaining progression scholarships, progress to further and higher education or as a pathway to direct employment.

All DIFe courses have excellent pathways to both Higher education and/or employment. DIFe graduates can progress to Higher education with places reserved for FeT learners in universities and Institutes of Technology in Ireland, uk and in europe. Many courses are also employment focused for those looking to gain industry recognised qualifications in a short course and progress directly to employment (childcare, healthcare, beauty therapy, hairdressing, pharmacy, animal care, dental nursing, health and fitness sectors etc). new & updated Courses in DIFe for 2023

DIFe are delighted to announce several new PLC programmes on offer for 2023/24. each programme will include a mandatory work placement within industry with learners gaining on the job skills in addition to their academic studies. All new courses having excellent progression links to employment and/or related degrees in universities/ IT’s here in Ireland, uk & europe.

Opticians Assistant (Ophthalmic Care)

Software Development & Cloud Computing

Holistic Studies with Yoga Teaching Architectural Technology & Design Furniture Design & Joinery

Computer Frontline Technician & Cyber Security Pre-University

Environmental Studies Ecology, Biodiversity & Horticulture

Food Science, Brewing Techniques & Nutrition Hospitality & Event Management Music Production & DJ Techniques

Dental Nursing

For further information and to apply for any of our 60+ courses, please visit the college website: www.dife.ie.

In the name Washington D.C., what does the D.C stand for?

The sitcom frasier was a character spin off of which other sitcom?

As featured in the song, what does the abbreviation YMCA stand for?