Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2020
352. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the policy responses and targeted supports for the hospitality sector in order that consumer spending can return to pre-Covid-19 levels in view of the up to 250,000 people employed in hospitality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26282/20]
View answerThe July Stimulus Package introduced significant measures to help support businesses to recover following the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. Some of the key measures for tourism and hospitality include the “Stay and Spend” initiative, the €26m adaptation grant, the €10m grant for coach tourism and the revised Restart grant which now includes B&B’s. Tourism enterprises will also benefit from wider horizontal supports such as the new Employment Wage Support Scheme, liquidity and enterprise investment measures, warehousing of tax liabilities and the extension for a further three months of the waiver of commercial rates.
As part of its response to Covid-19, and to drive bookings for short breaks and holidays in Ireland in 2020, Fáilte Ireland has invested in a number of domestic holiday campaigns since June of this year.
The Tourism Recovery Taskforce is currently finalising its recommendations for the ongoing survival and stabilisation of the Tourism sector. The Taskforce is expected to publish its Final Recovery Plan in the coming weeks and I, together with my colleagues in Government, will consider its recommendations at that stage. In the context of the Budget and the development of the National Economic Plan, the Government will review and refine existing supports, and consider any further necessary measures.
