Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020
20. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if supports will be made available to the tourism sector in view of the July stimulus package (details supplied); and if he will grant support to bars, restaurants and hotels to help them make their premises Covid-19-safe. [15750/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the enormous and unprecedented challenges which face the tourism sector as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Almost all tourism businesses were initially required to close in order to comply with the necessary public health measures introduced. Many have since reopened but, unfortunately, the majority of businesses are operating with significantly reduced levels of turnover compared to 2019 as a result of ongoing public health measures and the almost complete absence of overseas tourists coming into the country. This has meant that many jobs in the sector have been lost or are vulnerable.
Along with my colleagues in Government, I have taken a number of measures to help the sector survive this current crisis. The July Stimulus Package introduced significant measures to help support businesses to recover following the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. Some of the key measures for tourism and hospitality include the “Stay and Spend” initiative, the €26m adaptation grant, the €10m grant for coach tourism and the revised Restart grant which now includes B&B’s. Tourism enterprises will also benefit from wider horizontal supports such as the new Employment Wage Support Scheme, liquidity and enterprise investment measures, warehousing of tax liabilities and the extension for a further three months of the waiver of commercial rates.
As part of its response to Covid-19, and to drive bookings for short breaks and holidays in Ireland in 2020, Fáilte Ireland has invested in a number of domestic holiday campaigns since June of this year. I have seen at first hand that these campaigns have been successful in getting Irish people to holiday at home.
All of these measures have helped the sector. I appreciate, however, that severe challenges remain and we need to continue to examine ways to ensure that businesses survive and recover. The Tourism Recovery Taskforce appointed in May has just submitted its report to me. It is making a number of recommendations to help the sector to survive the crisis and eventually recover. Along with my colleagues in Government, I will consider its recommendations as we prepare for the Budget and the subsequent National Economic Plan.
