Niall Collins
Question:134. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36441/21]
View answerTuesday, 6 July 2021
Questions (134)
Written answers
I am fully mindful of the significant impact of the pandemic on the travel trade sector. With no meaningful business since March 2020, I understand the cash flow pressure that travel agents and tour operators are under, and I recognise that many are small family businesses doing the best for their customers.
The main sector-specific response to date was the Refund Credit Note Scheme, introduced last year to help protect liquidity in the face of the legal requirements imposed by the Package Travel Directive. Notes to the value of €17m have been issued. This is money that otherwise would have had to be paid by the sector at the height of the crisis to cover customer refunds at a time that their onward suppliers were not releasing refunds. However I understand the situation in respect to suppliers has regularised in recent months.
Travel agents and tour operators have also availed of central Government supports such as the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) which fall under the remit of my colleagues the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment respectively. These schemes have undoubtedly helped sustain employment in the sector.
While the planned reopening of international travel from July 19th is welcomed by the sector, my Department is maintaining ongoing close engagement with the industry, in particular through contacts with the Irish Travel Agents Association, as we await to see the level of recovery of travel.