Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Thursday, 11 February 2021

Questions (84)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

84. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the situation faced by coach operators (details supplied) who are concerned that the funding available through the Fáilte Ireland coach tourism business continuity scheme will not be sufficient to keep them in business until tourism restarts; if she will allocate additional funding to the scheme given that these companies are unable to apply for other pandemic financial supports; if she had discussions with the Minister for Finance with a view to developing a specific payment for coach tourism operators along the lines of the Covid restrictions support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7573/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

I am acutely aware of the devastating loss of business being experienced by tourism businesses including the coach tourism sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The July Stimulus and Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and fiscal measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors. As part of this a dedicated fund of €10million was introduced for a Coach Tourism Business Continuity Scheme in the last quarter of 2020. Fáilte Ireland are processing applications for this scheme.

In regard to the future, as with other sectors, the Government will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and to ensure that appropriate supports are in place to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic.