Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
390. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the engagement her Department has had regarding a possible successor to the stay and spend incentive; if engagement has taken place with representative organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22041/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Stay and Spend scheme was set up late last summer to stimulate demand for accommodation and hospitality businesses during the off season. Established by my colleague Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, this scheme was launched as an innovative approach to incentivise spending. However, public health conditions beyond our control have clearly prevented that. The stop and start nature of the pandemic and the unpredictable consequences of it have resulted in the scheme being underutilised and it is now scheduled to expire at the end of April.
There have been other very effective supports in place, including CRSS and the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme for strategic tourism businesses and Government has confirmed there will be no cliff edge in supports. I am committed to continuing support for tourism through this difficult period and to working towards reopening and recovery. As part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, Government will be outlining how it will help people return to work and further support sectors which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Along with my colleagues in Government, I will consider more targeted measures to help reboot those sectors, such as tourism, which will face particular challenges during the recovery phase when the economy reopens.
A review of the Stay and Spend scheme was one of the recent recommendations of the Tourism Recovery Oversight Group and I have urged cabinet colleagues to give serious consideration to this and other recommendations of that report to facilitate the reopening of the sector. Once the scheme ends it is anticipated that the Minster for Finance will take stock and look to what additional measures might be appropriate to put in place towards the end of the year. In this regard, while I am hopeful that the summer season will be buoyed by strong numbers in domestic tourism providing much needed business activity within the sector, I am cognisant of the seasonal nature of the industry and financial challenges the leaner shoulder and off season months could bring.
In regard to engagement with sectoral bodies, I, my officials and Fáilte Ireland have regular interactions with industry groups. In particular, the Tánaiste and I chair the Hospitality and Tourism Forum which has met three times to date and is due to meet again in May.
