Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
312. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a scheme will be established similar to the outdoor dining scheme for pubs that do not serve food to enable them to initiate outdoor spaces for their customers to utilise which would mirror the outdoor dining scheme currently in place for pubs and restaurants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24708/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFáilte Ireland’s Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme is being delivered in partnership with local authorities and has the specific aim of developing outdoor dining capacity nationwide. Under one strand of this scheme, grants for outdoor seating and accessories are available to a range of businesses selling food for consumption on their premises. Work is underway to examine how pubs that do not serve food can be similarly supported.
The Government remains committed to supporting tourism through this difficult period and to working towards reopening and recovery. In this regard, the Government will soon be publishing a National Economic Recovery Plan outlining how we will help people return to work and support sectors which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Government will consider more targeted measures to help reboot those sectors, such as tourism, which face particular challenges during the recovery phase when the economy reopens.
