Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
273. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if consideration was given to award a grant or partial grant to pubs who do not serve food under the outdoor seating and accessories for tourism and hospitality services to assist them in reopening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23753/21]
View answerThe grants to which the Deputy refers come under Fáilte Ireland's overall Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme, which is being delivered in partnership with the local authorities and has the specific aim of developing outdoor dining capacity nationwide. Under one strand of this scheme, grants for outdoor seating and accessories are available to a range businesses selling food for consumption on their premises. Work is underway to examine how pubs that do not serve food can be similarly supported.
The Government remains committed to supporting tourism through this difficult period and to working towards reopening and recovery. In this regard, the Government will soon be publishing a National Economic Recovery Plan outlining how we will help people return to work and support sectors which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Government will consider more targeted measures to help reboot those sectors, such as tourism, which face particular challenges during the recovery phase when the economy reopens.
