Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which hotel bed spaces continue to remain sufficiently available throughout Dublin city and the greater Dublin area, with a view to ensuring that tourists and those seeking hotel accommodation are not pressured into paying exorbitant prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45999/23]
View answer213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to be satisfied regarding the availability of adequate hotel accommodation throughout the country in order to provide for increased numbers of tourists seeking autumn, winter, spring and/or summer holidays here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46003/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 213 together.
There are currently just over 24,000 hotel rooms in Dublin City and County. While it is estimated that another 3,500 rooms are coming on stream over the next two years it is likely that more rooms, of differing classes and types, will be needed to support tourism, business and the range of other reasons which draw visitors from overseas and from around Ireland to the capital.
It is important to have a capital city that can cater for different types of visitors with quality and value choices to suit different budgets. Fáilte Ireland the National Tourism Development Authority, has been encouraging both the development of, and positive conditions for, hotels in Dublin through sharing evidenced-based analysis and through its role as a prescribed body in the planning process.
Fáilte Ireland is also working on Accommodation Audits to establish a baseline on existing capacity and to provide gap analysis in each destination and region. As part of the roll-out of all Destination Experience Development Plans, Fáilte Ireland will audit and map out current accommodation stock.
This will include a quality and gap analysis for additional accommodation development on a county-by-county basis.
Fáilte Ireland will use these audits to inform Local Authorities as they shape their own tourism accommodation strategies. My own officials are engaging strategically on the future accommodation needs of the tourism sector.
In relation to hotel prices, while Ireland is not a low-cost destination, it is vital that the sector keeps the value for money proposition to the fore across all its segments to ensure that our high quality reputation is maintained and that new and repeat visitors continue to come here.
