Tourism Industry

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Questions (449)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

449. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of tourist beds available in Ireland across the full offering (details supplied), in tabular form; the availability under each category in each region or county as of 1 January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1696/23]

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Written answers

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

My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.

The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.

I refer to your parliamentary question Ref: 1696/22 regarding tourist bed availability. To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture; Arts; Gaeltacht; Sport and Media the number of tourist beds available in Ireland across the full offering (details supplied) in tabular form; the availability under each category in each region or county as of 1 January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The Minister has asked that Fáilte Ireland respond to you directly on this matter. The attached document contains a breakdown of the accommodation stock on the Fáilte Ireland accommodation registers as of 1st January 2023.

The attached figures refer to ‘bedrooms’ in hotels, B&Bs, self-catering and holiday camps. Regarding hostels, these are categorised as ‘beds’, as this is dormitory accommodation. Caravan and camping, which focus on pitches not static accommodation, are not included. A breakdown of accommodation supply can be found on the Fáilte Ireland website Failte Ireland - Accommodation Supply Dashboard | Irish Tourism Statistics | Tourism Reports It is important to note the attached figures cover those businesses using prescribed terms that must register under Tourist Traffic Acts, along with those that have voluntarily become approved within the National Quality Assurance Framework. B&Bs and some self-catering, and those not using a prescribed term, are not required to register. Therefore, there are a substantial number of properties operating that are not included in the numbers provided.

Fáilte Ireland does not collate figures for bedrooms advertised on the Airbnb platform.

The Short Term Lettings register (expected to launch in April 2023) will in future provide Fáilte Ireland with a clear picture of all tourist accommodation across the State. In terms of availability of tourist accommodation, DCEDIY indicates that up to 25% of all tourism accommodation registered with Fáilte Ireland is contracted by the Government for Ukrainian citizens and International Protection Applicants.

											2023 Number of Bedrooms & Bedspaces by County
County	Hotels Bedrooms	Hotel Bedspaces	Guest House Bedrooms	Guest House Bedspaces	B&B Bedrooms	B&B Bedspaces	Self Catering Bedrooms	Self Catering Bedspaces	Hostels Bedspaces	Holiday Camp Bedrooms	Holiday Camps Bedspaces
Co. Carlow	496	1378	13	31	25	59	165	233	43
Co. Cavan	817	2001	62	141	39	92	182	219	7
Co. Clare	2561	6613	56	134	199	507	592	972	284
Co. Cork	4752	11712	252	544	336	782	1348	1958	307	907	907
Co. Donegal	2949	7507	34	79	163	383	826	1111	403
Co. Dublin	23881	55185	326	734	68	166	1012	1119	2497
Co. Galway	4689	11910	114	285	311	744	833	1214	1095
Co. Kerry	5545	13528	324	756	451	1029	1376	2098	358
Co. Kildare	1471	3351	62	148	40	103	119	147	62
Co. Kilkenny	1298	3427	73	176	68	169	46	70
Co. Laois	554	1423			16	34	11	27
Co. Leitrim	221	563	16	41	21	51	1099	1613
Co. Limerick	2335	5597	12	24	31	76	88	139	137
Co. Longford	130	335	17	40	12	29	21	29		932	2330
Co. Louth	788	1883	9	22	52	117	14	16	101
Co. Mayo	2377	6227	42	101	196	466	396	629	546
Co. Meath	1166	2870	38	88	29	82	399	556	30
Co. Monaghan	371	943	40	91	19	43	77	111
Co. Offaly	372	916	9	21	23	54	186	293
Co. Roscommon	271	659	19	35	39	90	88	140
Co. Sligo	1191	3238	14	28	70	167	158	241	87
Co. Tipperary	880	2180	22	57	117	275	81	166	64
Co. Waterford	1435	3713	25	56	61	149	207	341	44
Co. Westmeath	1036	2512	30	61	31	66	105	128
Co. Wexford	1482	4107	10	17	118	299	487	657
Co. Wicklow	1404	3489	37	79	92	224	161	218	352
Totals	64472	157267	1656	3789	2627	6256	10070	14445	6417	1839	3237