As part of Budget 2018, the Government introduced a range of measures to mitigate the implications of Brexit. As part of these measures, 2 million euro was secured for digital investment in tourism marketing. This is critical in the context of Brexit, the weakening of Sterling after the UK referendum, and the decline in visitors from Britain. The 9% VAT rate on tourism services was also retained in Budget 2018 and this will also assist in mitigating the impact of this decline.
Brexit has the potential to have serious adverse economic transport and tourism impacts and as a result has been identified as the main strategic risk facing the Department. The Department in response has organised itself internally to prepare for Brexit. While all relevant areas of the Department are actively engaged in Brexit-related work and consultation with stakeholders, overall responsibility for the preparation and coordination of the Department's response to Brexit has been assigned to the Head of Function in the Policy, Governance and EU Division. This Division was created in mid-2017 with strengthened resources to allow a more strategic focus on a number of key issues, including Brexit. Brexit issues relating to Tourism are managed by the Head of Function of the Tourism Marketing Policy and Impact Assessment Division. Both Heads of Function are Principal Officers.
The oversight and support teams that deal with Brexit issues in addition to other duties are 3 staff in the Policy, Governance and EU Division and 3 staff on the tourism side.
The Management Board has, and will continue, to keep under review the Department's internal organisation and structures for Brexit to ensure that they remain robust in addressing the evolving Brexit situation.
The matter of additional staffing in the Department's agencies is a matter for those agencies and I have referred the Deputy's question to the agencies for direct reply to the Deputy. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
