Gruesome prospect facing beauticians

A leading beautician fears that the industry's lack of lobbying clout will see it suffer as the government makes major calls in easing the country out of lockdown and steering it through economic turmoil.

Anna Costello is the proprietor of Utopia Health and Beauty Clinic in the Cavan Crystal Hotel. She notes that the sector lacks representation at national level, and has begun her own social media campaign to put forward the arguments for the sector.

"I want to ensure that we are not waiting and in the aftermath saying, 'Oh we should have done this' - because that's what happened before," explained Anna referring to the outcome of the last recession. The 2008 downturn saw the government reduce service VAT for hairdressers and barbers from 13.5% to 9%, but left beauticians at the higher rate.

To continue to operate during these Coronavirus times beauticians will have to invest in PPE, and Anna estimates that therapists will each have to dedicate an hour for "set up" and "clean down" times of treatment rooms each day. In acknowledgment of extra costs/time Anna would - "If I could be heard" - propose to abolish or reduce service VAT to three per cent in the "short term".

She contends that such a move would help keep people off the live register, and the State would contiunue to get 23% sales VAT.

Anna is also deeply concerned by the prospect of remaining closed until the final phase of the restrictions road map - August 10, describing it as a "catastrophic" outcome.

"We didn't need for COVID-19 to happen in order to set up policies and procedures for good hygiene practice," she assures.

Looking at the experiences of other countries, which eased restrictions weeks ahead of the Republic, Anna concludes "definitely you would be looking being able to go back in mid-June, not July, August".

She adds: "It's as safe to be going to a beauty salon as it is to be going into Woodies or into the pharmacy or anywhere else - absolutely."