The Ferry stopped after the weekend. That will be it till just before St Patrick’s Day. I was told by a local taxi driver that there is a very noticeable effect on local businesses as soon as the ferry closes. He said that it wasn’t just on Greencastle but in Moville too.
One Greencastle businessman told me that 30% of his business came over on the ferry. That will be 30% gone now. I would expect that it will be similar for other Greencastle businessmen (and women).
THere are three main routes into Moville & Greencastle. There is the Malin Road, there is the Derry Road and there is the Ferry. That’s where virtually all the business comes from. Those are our three arteries – and one of them is now shut off till the spring.
See You
One local restaurateur told me that they have a group of people who come across on the ferry to eat in the restaurant every Friday. “See you in March” they said last Friday.
It’s such a shame that the ferry can’t be kept open all year round. It makes such a big difference to Moville & Greencastle businesses – even during the off-season.
Every other county in Ireland, bar Donegal, gets its public transport (trains) subsidised. It would make such a big difference to the Moville & Greencastle area if the ferry was to stay open all year.
Cost Benefit
I’m certain that a Cost Benefit Analysis would show that it costs the Government more in lost taxes when the ferry is closed than they would pay in subsidy if it was open. I know that as I have already done one. The Government is losing a considerable amount of money with the ferry being closed.
Those not paying tax, or paying less tax, when the ferry is closed would be:-
1. Ferry workers
2. Ferry owners
3. Moville & Greencastle businesses
4. Those working for Moville & Greencastle business who would get fewer hours or get laid off for the winter
5. All those local businesses whom the tourist trade owners and workers would spend money with if they had some more money, e.g. other pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, beauticians, plumbers, electricians, painters etc.
Circulation of Money
The Circulation of Money idea in economics says that every Euro brought into an area gets spent an average of 6 times. For example a restaurant worker who got a few more hours might spend it at the hairdressers who might spend it on a meal at a restaurant who might spend it on a plumber, electrician or painter etc.
However, all that will extra tax income will now be lost to the Government. It will also mean that many of the staff who have been laid off or get fewer hours will emigrate to Australia or New Zealand and won’t spend any more money on the bars and restaurants of the town.
Something needs to be done to halt this.