Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are three themes on which I wish to ask questions. I will be pleased if I manage to deal with them all. The first is seasonal employment and hotels, guest houses, etc., that only open for part of the season. What percentage or number of hotels open seasonally, that is, are closed in January and February? How many hotels operate on a skeleton basis in those months? Has the Irish Hotels Federation discussed with the Department the possibility of allowing employers to avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, based on employment patterns in the previous year? If that is not done, seasonally based operations will not be able to avail of the TWSS. If that issue was raised with the Department, what was its response?

There is a second part to that question. Do the hospitality sector representatives believe the TWSS should be extended for a year to bring certainty to the hospitality and hotel industries?