Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
293. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the financial supports that Fáilte Ireland will provide to the coach tourism sector; and if funding will be allocated from the €55 million business continuity scheme designed to support strategic businesses in the sector. [44987/20]
View answer294. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to support coach tourism in 2021 in view of the fact that the sector is responsible for attracting two million international tourists to Ireland each year. [44988/20]
View answer295. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to address the significant cash flow pressures that businesses in the coach tourism are experiencing and are likely to continue to experience over 2021 (details supplied). [44989/20]
View answer296. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has made representations to Fáilte Ireland in respect of the need for coach tourism to be supported under the €55 million in business continuity scheme designed for strategic tourism businesses; and the status of the request for financial support. [44990/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 293 to 296, inclusive, together.
As part of the July stimulus package and in response to the challenges being experienced by the Coach Tourism sector the Government provided €10m to fund the Coach Tourism Business Continuity Scheme which is administered by Fáilte Ireland. I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide the Deputy with further details regarding the administration of the scheme. Please let my private office know if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Budget 2021 included a number of further substantial measures to support and strengthen the tourism sector and are supplemented by the economy-wide business supports and social welfare measures. A key measure in Budget 2021 was the provision of an additional €55m in Business Continuity funding to support strategic tourism businesses. This funding will be administered by Fáilte Ireland who are considering all sectors within tourism and are particularly mindful of those that have not been able to avail of other Government supports.
Supports available to tourism businesses will continue to be reviewed as we seek to protect viable businesses and prepare for recovery in the sector.
