Vol. 1038 No. 5
1. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of any concerns she has communicated on behalf of the tourism sector regarding tourist accommodation availability for peak season, and any economic effects this may have on the wider tourism sector for 2023, to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23340/23]
Will the Minister provide the details of any and all concerns she has communicated on behalf of the tourism sector regarding tourist accommodation availability for the peak season and any economic effects this may have on the wider tourism sector for 2023 to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and will she make a statement on the matter?
The arrival of refugees from the war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants, has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. The national response to this challenge is underpinned by an all-of-government approach. As part of this effort, Ireland is now accommodating more than 83,520 people, compared with 8,300 in February 2022. This is equivalent to the population of Galway city and serviced accommodation within the tourism sector, primarily hotels, has been to the fore in meeting this immediate need.
The Government is focused on how to continue the sustained support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, including those already here as well as those likely to be further displaced by the ongoing conflict. As part of this, the Government has agreed that a move from an emergency response to a more mainstreamed approach, including a reduced reliance on serviced accommodation, is appropriate.
Demand for Irish tourism from abroad and at home is strong and the sector, supported by the Government, has shown great resilience in rebuilding after Covid. However, I am concerned about the potential downstream impacts on tourism businesses of the removal of one third of registered tourism accommodation from the tourism market. Fáilte Ireland research shows that, for every €1 spent on tourism accommodation, the average overnighting tourist spends another €2.50 in the local economy on visitor attractions, tourism support services, hospitality and retail.
I have raised this concern with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, and other Government colleagues and I have asked my officials and Fáilte Ireland to do further work on this issue as we approach peak season. That work will focus on emerging trends in the 2023 season, with a particular focus on those parts of the country that are most affected by the loss of tourism accommodation. It will also assess what mitigation measures could be considered if the scale of the impact is sufficient to warrant this.
The State has invested heavily over the decades in helping the tourism sector to become a key employer of scale in large parts of the country and in ensuring a strong pool of tourism attractions, activity providers and related tourism businesses. While it is to be hoped that intervention and mitigation measures will not be needed and that key tourism businesses will be able to trade successfully throughout the season, it is prudent to assess the potential impacts of tourist accommodation displacement and to consider potential measures.
We are fast approaching peak tourism season. Notwithstanding the pressures we have been under in seeking accommodation for asylum seekers over the past 15 months or so, the use of hotel accommodation and the problems this might cause for the tourism sector have been flagged for at least the past year. We are right in the thick of it now. Nationally, the average use of tourist accommodation for asylum seekers is a little under one third. It is 34% when Dublin is excluded. In places like Longford, 71% of tourist accommodation is being used for asylum seekers. The figures for Offaly and Donegal are 59% and 53%, respectively. Tourism will be seriously affected. If accommodation is not available when tourists look for it, our tourism potential for 2023 will be greatly reduced. Does the Minister accept that proper long-term planning was not done in sufficient time to deal with this issue?
My focus now is on examining whether there is a need for mitigation measures. At a senior officials group, my Department has communicated the potential challenges arising for the tourism ecosystem, particularly in the parts of the country where, as the Deputy pointed out, a high proportion of the tourism accommodation stock has been directed to humanitarian purposes.
This is the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. We are giving refuge to those fleeing horrific circumstances, and that is the right thing to do, but speaking as the Minister with responsibility for tourism, I have concerns, which I have consistently stated in the Chamber and to my Cabinet colleagues, about the potential knock-on impacts on the wider tourism ecosystem. My officials and Fáilte Ireland have regular engagement with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I have asked Fáilte Ireland to consider what potential mitigation measures might need to be examined.
The over-reliance on the tourism sector has been well flagged. The Minister told me in January:
I can confirm that the Government has approved the construction of 700 rapid-build homes with the potential to house up to 2,800 individuals in family units. The rapid-build homes will be constructed on State-owned land. The Office of Public Works, OPW, is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. [The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, is part of the cross-departmental group that is supposed to handle this.] The objective is to install 500 units by March-April 2023.
We are now in mid-May and we are hearing that there may be 200 in June. Does the Minister accept that the Government's level of planning has put our tourism potential at risk this year?
I need to be, have been and am raising my concerns about the wider tourism ecosystem, but it is only right that we give refuge to those who need it. This time last year, we were giving refuge to 8,300 people. That number is now approximately 83,500. This brings its own challenges. It is the largest humanitarian effort in the history of the State.
I am considering mitigation measures that might be needed. Any mitigation measure must be underpinned by clear data and a full understanding of the issues arising. This is what I have asked my departmental officials and Fáilte Ireland to do. We will revert to Cabinet colleagues with potential mitigation measures.
3. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the provision that her Department is making to introduce financial supports to the tourism sector for the development of sustainable policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23938/23]
There has been a reduction in the availability of accommodation in most tourist attraction areas, mainly due to the accommodation being provided as refuges to our Ukrainian visitors. This has caused many small local indigenous businesses to see a stark reduction in their patronage. What provisions is the Minister's Department making to provide financial recompense and support to the tourism sector for the development of sustainable policies?
The Deputy will forgive me. When I saw her question on financial supports for sustainable policies, I thought she was referring to the greening of tourism, but she is also referring to possible mitigation measures for the wider tourism ecosystem. I addressed the issue of mitigation measures when replying to Deputy Munster, so I will discuss sustainable tourism practices.
The Department has been undertaking important work to ensure that tourism plays its part in achieving our climate targets. In 2023, I secured additional funding of €3 million for Fáilte Ireland to continue its work in supporting tourism businesses to embrace sustainability. Fáilte Ireland has undertaken a collaborative approach with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, Uisce Éireann and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to ensure that tourism businesses are fully briefed and aware of the initiatives and practical supports that are available from different sources.
I have met the SEAI and emphasised the willingness of the tourism sector to play its part in reducing emissions and achieving our climate action goals. It has a wide range of funding measures that are of relevance to the tourism sector. These include a support scheme for energy audits, financial supports towards the installation of heat pumps or biomass-biogas boilers and combined heat and power, CHP, units, and grant supports towards the purchase of new N1 category electric vehicles. We are also working on sustainability and tourism policy.
On the second part of the Deputy's question, as I said to Deputy Munster, I have continuously raised my concerns with my officials on a senior officials group, with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, and other colleagues regarding the potential need for mitigation supports due to these challenges in the wider tourism ecosystem. I have asked my officials and Fáilte Ireland to do further work on this as I have concerns in that regard.
I know that there is somewhat of a crossover and I appreciate there may be confusion regarding the question, but the reality is fewer accommodation places for tourists means fewer customers for other tourism-related businesses in those areas. Every euro spent, as the Minister said, has the impact of withdrawing, in effect, €2.50 from the local economy. We have restaurants, bars and activity centres in County Wexford, such as the International Outdoor Adventure Centre in Rosslare, Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre, the Dunbrody Famine Ship, the Kennedy Homestead, Hook Lighthouse, trips to the Saltee Islands and par 3 golf links. I spoke to the owner of a par 3 golf course in Fethard-on-Sea. His business is down 70% primarily due to the fact that the holiday village of Hookless is now fully accommodating refugees, which I welcome. They absolutely need to be given refuge but we, and the Minister, need to take cognisance of the lack of business sooner rather than later. We do not need to see business closures or job losses.
Absolutely. I have said here and to my colleagues that I have concerns about that knock-on impact to businesses. Some of those in the hospitality sector are under the remit of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, with whom I co-chair the tourism and hospitality forum. These are issues that will come to us in the coming weeks but I am sure he too, like myself, is probably looking at those challenges and how we can put mitigation measures in support. Anecdotal evidence of early impacts on non-accommodation tourism business is definitely emerging already.
We have developed, through the Covid pandemic, experience of what type of targeted measures can support tourism businesses. We supported them throughout the pandemic and will not let them fail now. That is why I am very much on top of this, have consistently flagged it with my Cabinet colleagues, and have a body of work under way.
I thank the Minister. I do not wish to be parochial but, in the case of rural Ireland and a rural county like Wexford where I come from, we have to join the dots. The protest that is occurring in County Clare is due to a build-up of anxiety in communities regarding the impact of housing our refugees and asylum seekers, without a doubt. Everybody is wondering whether there will be a job for students coming home from college who cannot drive because they have not been able to get a driving test to get a full licence and need somebody with them. Their only hope of work is in their local community. If those businesses are not supported to stay afloat, and the provision of employment for our students coming back to rural Ireland for the summer months is not there, a whole lot more unrest will be seen. That is why it is very significant and important that we engage with communities and support them through this process. The war was not caused by rural Ireland.
I again commend communities the length and breadth of the country on giving that céad míle fáilte to those fleeing from such horrific circumstances. While people always have a right to peaceful protest, those fleeing such horrific circumstances also have a very much equal right to peacefully adapt to their new communities, where they are seeking refuge.
On the Deputy's concerns, if we look back to what we did during the Covid pandemic, such as the continuity supports we put in for strategic tourism businesses, there are potential measures we need to consider, if the evidence is clear that there is a loss of tourism footfall in specific areas that is leading to significant reductions in trade and turnover. As I said, there is already anecdotal evidence that this is happening, which is my concern. Other levers that could be considered include rate reliefs and targeted marketing campaigns to help drive additional footfall to the most affected parts of the country. We are very much aware of this issue. I have my concerns and a body of work is under way.
2. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of cases in which individuals are, as a result of participating in the basic income for artists scheme, being pursued with debt letters for thousands of euro in social protection overpayments, with no warning given prior to or following the commencement of the scheme that individuals on jobseeker's allowance would face such negative consequences; and to explain why the poorest arts workers must rely on the basic income to cover basic living costs and give up their main social welfare payment while still seeking employment, when at the same time those already earning from employment can use the basic income to pursue a career in the arts while maintaining their full income. [23709/23]
My question is quite lengthy. It relates to the basic income for artists. Some of those participating in the scheme are now being pursued with debt letters from the Department of Social Protection, despite many people's understanding that this was an additional payment and those who were on social welfare would not suffer a loss of income on the basis this was meant to be income to help them not go into debt.
The basic income for artists, BIA, pilot scheme has been introduced following extensive consultation with the arts sector to assess how such a scheme can best support professional arts practice in Ireland. The associated research programme will capture data on all aspects of the scheme to inform future policy responses to the needs of the sector. This will include the interaction of the €325 per week payment with social welfare supports, which are a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Feedback on the scheme from recipients to date is overwhelmingly positive but, of course, I have sympathy with any recipients who may be experiencing difficulty regarding social welfare issues. That is why the research element of the BIA scheme is of such importance.
The issues raised by the Deputy relate primarily to the manner in which social welfare schemes assess income from other sources. These are matters for the Minister for Social Protection under various chapters of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. Any changes to the social welfare code would require amendments to the Social Welfare Act, for which I have no statutory responsibility, and would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. Social welfare legislation obliges every claimant or beneficiary to notify the Department of Social Protection of any change in circumstances. This includes the acquisition of any new income, such as the basic income for artists. My Department highlighted this obligation in the guidelines and FAQs for the scheme. When accepting a place on the scheme, applicants were strongly advised to investigate what their own particular tax and social welfare situation would be should they receive payment.
The overarching objective of the BIA scheme is to address the earnings instability that can be associated with the intermittent, periodic and often project-based nature of work in the arts. It aims to ensure that participants retain a steady and predictable income during the pilot and help artists develop self-sustaining creative practices. The scheme is also an opportunity to conduct that in-depth research into the pay and living conditions of Ireland's artists. It was a key priority for me as Minister with responsibility for arts and culture. I look forward to seeing the results of the research programme underpinning the pilot. Publication of the research should commence this summer.
I also welcome the research. I will highlight one case in particular, about which I have written to the Minister and the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys. The latter told me that the person in question was doing everything right in just seeking clarity, yet the Department continued to pay him. That meant he ended up with a payment of €3,000 that is now being demanded of him. As he stated:
The fact that the Department were aware that I was not entitled to jobseeker's yet continued to dispense payments to me is deeply concerning. That implies the Department knowingly let me put myself in a position of serious debt, despite proactive clarity seeking on my part. ... I would have been homeless were it not for the jobseeker's, yet if I was no longer entitled, why were there no contingencies established for individuals in my position?
The question is what can be done in this case. Will the Minister liaise with the Minister for Social Protection, even at this stage? These issues were raised before the scheme started.
As I said, I assure the Deputy that the issue of disabled artists participating in the BIA scheme was and is a matter I take very seriously. Issues around the disability allowance are something my officials and I were aware of at the very outset of planning this intervention. I understand how important the social welfare payments, and issues such as medical cards, are for people with disabilities but, that being said, I have no statutory function regarding those issues.
There was stakeholder engagement and I was determined from the outset of this scheme that artists with disabilities would be in a position to participate. To that end, bilateral engagement took place between my Department and the Department of Social Protection prior to the launch of the scheme.
There are barriers and that is something that very much came out in the research element of this. This is a pilot scheme and it may well end up shedding light on this particular issue which would be of benefit to those artists with disability. As I said earlier, we emphasised very clearly to those participating that they need to examine their own individual circumstances.
In this case, the individual did examine these circumstances and contacted the Department of Social Protection several times. The Department of Social Protection is undermining a pilot scheme from the Minister’s own office. That is the extent of it because I will finish again with a quote from the person who wrote to both the Minister present and to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, where he said these payments have diminished his capability to create and fund his own work, which was the purpose of the basic income for the arts scheme. In fact, engaging with this pilot scheme has led to at least one person, and I know that there are others who are in similar circumstances, being unable to continue with their art in the current framework. There was engagement at the start between the Minister present and the Department of Social Protection but it looks as if the Department of Social Protection does not understand the scheme and is acting against the reasons behind it.
These issues relate primarily to the manner in which the social welfare schemes assess income from other sources. These matters are an issue for the Minister for Social Protection under the various chapters of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. As I said, I believe that the value of the research programme associated with this scheme is that it will capture the experience of all participants, including those with disabilities, and point to any adjustments which may be required for future supports. The interaction of this support and social welfare payments, especially for those with disabilities, will likely be one of the most important insights to emerge from the pilot.
4. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Uimh. 76 ar an 26 Eanáir 2023, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an tríú gné den obair athbhreithniúcháin atá idir lámha ag Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir leis na córais agus maidir leis an gcur chuige atá i ngníomh ag an údarás faoi láthair chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliantchuideachtaí agus maidir leis na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riaradh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [23445/23]
Baineann mo cheist go sonrach le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus go háirithe, ba mhaith liom soiléiriú a fháil ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta ó thaobh na hanailíse nó na hoibre atá idir lámha aige ó thaobh dul chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliantchomhlachtaí.
Tá tugtha le fios ag Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil leasaithe déanta ag an eagraíocht ar na córais agus an cur chuige riaracháin a bhí in úsáid roimhe seo chun measúnú agus monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar na pleananna teanga atá aontaithe agus á bhfeidhmiú ag a chuid cliantchuideachtai. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an córas sin i bhfeidhm ó bhí tús 2022 ann agus go bhfuiltear ag leanúint an chórais, dá réir. Tá ráite ag an údarás go mbaineann an tríú gné den obair seo le taighde a choimisiúnaigh an eagraíocht atá dírithe ar eolas agus tuairimí a bhailiú ó fhostóirí agus ó fhostaithe a chliant maidir le húsáid na Gaeilge sa ghnó. Fuarthas aischothú ó bheagnach 800 fostaí i suirbhé a rinneadh mar chuid den taighde sin agus tá dréacht-thuairisc ina leith curtha faoi bhráid an údaráis.
San áireamh sa tuairisc sin, tá eolas faoi thorthaí an taighde agus tá moltaí déanta maidir leis na bealaí a d'fhéadfaí tacú leis na cliantchuideachtaí - na fostaithe go háirithe - níos mó Ghaeilge a úsáid sa ghnó, sa bhaile agus sa phobal. Tá curtha in iúl ag an údarás go bhfuil fócas na heagraíochta anois ag díriú ar na bealaí gur féidir léi tionchar a imirt ar iompar agus ar chleachtas teanga an 8,000 fostaí atá ag obair ina chliantchuideachtaí ar fud na Gaeltachta, ní hamháin ar an láthair ghnó ach taobh amuigh de chomh maith.
Tá an t-údarás ag súil le scéim nua tacaíochta a fhorbairt agus a thairiscint bunaithe ar an taighde agus na moltaí atá déanta. Tá tugtha le fios aige go bhfuil an obair sin idir lámha faoi láthair agus go mbeidh an scéim sin á forbairt agus á soláthar i gcomhar le páirtithe leasmhara eile sa phobal a thugann tacaíocht don teanga i réimse eile ar nós réimse an teaghlaigh, an luathoideachais agus an óige.
Tuigtear dom go ndéanfar an scéim seo a thairiscint ar bhonn phíolótach do líon aontaithe cliaint ar dtús sa chaoi is gur féidir an t-éileamh agus cur chuige na scéime a thástáil chomh maith le modhanna éifeachtacha a aimsiú chun tionchar na scéime a thomhais. Déanfar an obair sin idir seo agus deireadh na bliana agus tá an t-údarás ag súil go mbeidh scéim nua réidh le fógairt ansin in Eanáir 2024.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Is dócha, má bhreathnaímid i gcomhthéacs amháin, go bhfuil dul chun cinn á dhéanamh ach i gcomhthéacs eile is é seo an deichiú ceist inniu uaim, mar chuir mé naoi gcinn roimhe seo, chun a fháil amach cén saghas monatóireachta atá i gceist ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus ardmheas tuillte ag an údarás. Táimse ag díriú isteach ar na cliantchomhlachtaí, na pleananna teanga agus gan mhonatóireacht ar bith á déanamh go dtí seo orthu. De bharr na ndeich gceist atá curtha agam, bhí mé ag súil le plean gnímh ag dul siar mar is é ceann de na freagraí a fuair mé ná go raibh plean gnímh i gceist. Cá bhfuil an plean gnímh sin agus an bhfuil an tuarascáil nó an anailís le foilsiú? An mbeimid in ann í a fheiceáil agus cad é toradh na hoibre atá déanta acu agus neart airgid caite ag comhlachtaí chun an anailís seo a dhéanamh?
Mar a dúirt mé, tá sé curtha in iúl ag an údarás go bhfuil fócas na heagraíochta anois ag díriú ar na bealaí gur féidir leis tionchar a imirt ar iompar agus ar chleachtas teanga leis na 8,000 fostaí atá ag obair ina chliantchuideachtaí ar fud na Gaeltachta. Agus an próiseas pleanála teanga faoi lán seoil sa Ghaeltacht, tá deis níos mó ná riamh ag an údarás agus ag na pobail áitiúla labhairt leis na comhlachtaí, leis an mbainistíocht agus leis na fostaithe araon faoin dtionchar mór a d'fhéadfaidís a imirt sa limistéar pleanála teanga ina bhfuil siad lonnaithe ó thaobh na Gaeilge de, agus dul i gcion orthu go bhfuil ról tábhachtach acu go léir i gcothú agus le sealbhú na teanga. B'fhéidir go mbeidh níos mó eolais a fháil agam nuair a bheidh deis agam labhairt leis na hoifigigh. Déanfaidh mé an t-eolas sin a sheoladh don Teachta níos déanaí, má tá sé sin á iarraidh aici.
Cuirim fáilte roimh tuilleadh eolais ach tá mé ag breathnú siar agus ar an 8 Samhain den bhliain seo caite, fuair mé anailís de thoradh an tsuirbhé agus bunaithe ar an anailís a bhí críochnaithe ag an am sin, bhí sé i gceist plean gnímh a chur le chéile. Go sonrach arís, cá bhfuil an plean gnímh sin agus cá bhfuil torthaí na hanailíse sin le feiceáil? Is rud maith go bhfuil siad chun díriú isteach anois air ach tá an tAire ag labhairt faoi thogra píolótach. Ar bhealach amháin, is maith an rud é sin ach tá dualgais i bhfad níos tromchúisí ar Údarás na Gaeltachta ná mar atá ar an Industrial Development Authority, IDA, nó ar Fhiontraíocht Éireann. Is iad sin chun fostaíocht a chothú, pobal a chothú agus teanga a chothú. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeadh fostaíocht sna Gaeltachtaí uile ach é a bheith fite fuaite leis an teanga. Arís, fiafraím den Aire, cá bhfuil toradh na hanailíse? Táim ag díriú isteach ar an gceist seo le breis is dhá bhliain anois. Cá bhfuil an taighde sin le feiceáil?
Sa chur chuige leasaithe atá curtha i bhfeidhm ag an údarás ó thús 2022, aontaítear pleananna teanga ar bhunús tréimhse trí bliana leis an gcliant. Aontaítear plean teanga bunaithe ar líon aontaithe spriocanna gníomhaíochtaí a bheith bainte amach gach bliain le linn na tréimhse sin agus déantar measúnú agus monatóireacht ar dhul chun cinn na spriocanna go bliantúil. Faoi dheireadh mhí Aibreáin, bhí pleananna teanga nua agus athbhreithniú aontaithe le 29 gcliant ó thús na bliana. Má tá torthaí eile á iarraidh ag an Teachta, beidh mé ag caint le m’oifigigh tar éis na gceisteanna seo agus seolfaidh mé iad siúd chuici.
