The Restaurants Association of Ireland has said it expects a wave of food business closures to continue over the coming months, after more than 280 closed in the last six months of last year.
Tommy's restaurant in Monaghan Town closed after over 50 years in business in recent weeks due to the continued pressures on operating within the sector.
The association is blaming high running costs and the increase in the VAT rate for the closures adding that the sector is in crisis.
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The organisation has also appealed to the Government to reinstate the 9% VAT rate to prevent further closures across the country. Chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins says the closures are a worrying trend.
