Eating out is more influenced by where you live than you may think.
In a new series of articles, Newstalk is bringing you local election snapshots in the run-up to the elections on June 7th.
There are 31 local authorities in Ireland.
They provide hundreds of services ranging from roads, planning, housing and economic and community development.
One of the many issues they consider is restaurants and outdoor dining.
Restaurants Association CEO Adrian Cummins says everything businesses do costs money, which the local authorities could reduce.
"Absolutely local authorities can bring down the cost of doing business in terms of local authority rates, which is one of the biggest costs for every business," he said.
"Then you have other ancillary costs on top of that that you have to pay.
"If you have a grease trap - which is called FOG licence (Fats, Oils and Grease) you have to pay that every year as well.
"If you music in your premises you've to pay a music royalty, if you have once-off dance licences you need to go to the courts to get that as well."
A waiter at a restaurant, 15-5-13. Image: Images of Birmingham Premium / AlamyMr Cummins said costs to the consumer could be cut if these fees were reduced.
"These are all extra costs on business - if they were reduced or abolished, there would be a knock-on effect for customers in terms of pricing".
Mr Cummins said local authorities could help businesses by simply keeping areas clean.
"Like what we see in the continent when we go on holidays - the streets are clean, the pavements are clean, the bins are emptied," he said.
"That is one of the big bugbears of our industry; we pay all these charges - all these fees, thousands of euros each year- and we don't get a quality service for it.
"If we can't get a quality service we need to look at that seriously and then contract it out to others and let the commercial and private sector do it".
'Pro-small business'
Licence fees for outdoor dining were waived into 2023, which usually cost €125 per table.
Mr Cummins said this is something they welcome.
"[Local authorities] still have the same remit in terms of inspections of the tables and chair licencing area.
"The Minister for the Environment has deemed that there's no requirement for a charge - and that is a huge benefit for the year ahead.
"So we welcome that".
Mr Cummins said he wants voters to be conscious of where their candidates stand on small businesses.
"From our industry we want to make sure that we have candidates that are pro-business," he said.
"Not just in the hospitality sector but pro-small business across the community.
"If you don't have a vibrant town centre, village or vibrant community your town or village will die.
"You'll see where these small businesses are under serious threat at the moment.
"So we need to have a voice in local government that will stand up and represent small business."
