Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021
245. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the financial supports offered to SMEs in the hospitality and events sector will also apply to travel SMEs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61183/21]
View answerI understand the Deputy is referring to supports for travel agents. Fáilte Ireland administered an Ireland Based Inbound Agents Business Continuity Scheme of €10m in the final quarter of 2020. The overall purpose of the Scheme was to help Irish Based Inbound Agents to withstand the impact of COVID-19 by providing a direct financial contribution to support their business continuity plans.
Fáilte Ireland recently announced indicative details of how the €50m funding provided in Budget 2022 for the Tourism Business Continuity Programme will be allocated to assist strategic tourism businesses, including €11m - €13m for Strategic Ireland Based Inbound Agents who package, sell, and market Ireland’s tourism product overseas. This scheme will open for applications on 12 January 2022 and Fáilte Ireland will hold an industry webinar on 6 January 2022 giving more details.
Travel agents also benefit from many of the Covid-19 horizontal supports provided by Government such as the EWSS and rates waiver.
Supports for Outbound Tour Agents come under the remit of my colleague, Eamon Ryan, Minister for Transport.
