Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2022
1. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide details of any plans she has for the hotel and accommodation sector in 2023, with particular regard to the effect of the Ukrainian refugee crisis on the sustainability of the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56967/22]
View answerWill the Minister provide details of any plans she has for the hotel and accommodation sector in 2023, with particular regard to the effect of the Ukrainian refugee crisis on the sustainability of the sector? Will she will make a statement on the matter, please?
Ireland is resolute in its solidarity and support for Ukraine and we are honouring our commitment to help people who have been displaced by this horrendous war. More than 63,000 people who have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine have sought refuge in Ireland, and approximately 45,000 of these people are being provided with accommodation from the State. However, this war is causing ongoing challenges such as rising energy prices, scarcity of energy supply and supply chain issues including accommodation. This is by some distance the largest humanitarian operation undertaken by the Irish State, and tourism accommodation has played a vital part in this national response. However, I recognise the growing concern among the wider tourism industry about how the amount of tourism bed stock taken out of the system for humanitarian reasons is likely to have a real impact on tourism's recovery in 2023 and beyond. In addition, hotel accommodation is not an ideal medium- to long-term solution for the accommodation needs of families, and this is why the Government is exploring a wide range of alternative options, including the rolling out of a rapid-build housing programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine. My officials have communicated these concerns to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, which is working urgently across government and with agencies, NGOs and local authorities to bring new accommodation on board so that the State's humanitarian responsibilities can be met. In addition, my Department is participating in the senior officials' group that is focusing on meeting the current humanitarian accommodation and other needs.
As the Minister is aware, the tourism sector is coming out of a very difficult few years after Covid-19 restrictions, on top of which there are the cost-of-living crisis, the energy crisis and the influx of refugees from the Ukrainian conflict. However, media reports yesterday covered the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, ITIC, issuing of a report, Irish Tourism: Impact of Ukrainian Conflict. The report says that Ireland is an outlier in Europe in regard to its over-reliance on tourist beds for refugees. The report also says that almost 22% of tourist accommodation in the State is currently used by the State for refugees both from Ukraine and other parts, and that is expected to rise with the influx of refugees over the winter months. It says that the Government figure suggests 76% of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland are being accommodated in tourist facilities. As the Minister knows, we have heard other reports about the severe knock-on effect this has had on the sector. Has the Minister met with the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, to try to find a solution to this?
I thank Deputy Munster. As I said, we are resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine. More than 45,000 Ukrainian people have sought accommodation from the State in addition to more than 16,000 international protection applicants. This compares with 7,500 at the same time last year. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman's, Department has sourced accommodation for the equivalent of the population of Waterford city in the past six months. My officials have communicated concerns to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, especially in respect of the peak period, which starts from around St. Patrick's Day onwards. I have communicated these concerns also to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. That is why I am glad my Department is represented on that senior officials' group that is focusing on meeting the current humanitarian accommodation and other needs and conveying the concerns of the tourism sector.
About 80% of refugees have been put up in facilities outside of Dublin. That means the knock-on effect on those areas is particularly harsh when it comes to tourism. The ITIC also estimates there could be a loss of up to €1 billion in earnings and hundreds of job losses. That represents a serious threat to the industry. The Minister said the Government is looking at a rapid house building programme, but in all fairness, how long have we been hearing that? As the Minister said, the pressure will really be on in earnest in early spring. I do not get from what the Minister just said that there is a plan in place already that will be fit for purpose come the springtime to accommodate refugees fleeing conflict anywhere other than hotels. That is going to have a detrimental effect on our tourism for 2023.
Hotel accommodation has been seen from the very beginning as a short term solution. It is not an ideal medium- to long-term solution for the accommodation needs of families. That is why the Government is exploring the wide range of alternative options, including the rolling out of a rapid-build housing programme. The use of tourist accommodation to meet humanitarian needs, while necessary in the short term, has obviously led to concerns for everyone involved in tourism, from what I have heard from engagement with the sector. My Department is represented on the senior officials' group on this issue. In addition, my Department has regular engagement with the sector representatives on a range of issues, including this. Department officials will next meet with the tourism agencies and tourism sector representatives on 6 December 2022. There is ongoing engagement with the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and between me and the Minister, and I have conveyed the concerns of the industry.
The next speaker is missing, so we will move on to the next question, and it is Deputy Munster again.
