Ms Mary Considine:

We obviously welcome the July stimulus because it gave certainty about the continuation of the temporary wage subsidy scheme. However, in our dialogue with the officials in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in particular we have already highlighted to them that even with the scheme continuing we would be still incurring significant losses in the heritage business through the winter, hence the requirement for the subvention of that business through the winter. We are in dialogue with Department officials on that and are waiting for an outcome. That business is predominantly reliant on international tourists coming into the country. We do not have international tourists coming into the country in meaningful numbers this year and we are looking at continuing losses in the peak summer season, even taking into account the domestic market. As such there will be no business going into the winter. Banquets, for example, are 94% reliant on international visitors coming to our sites. We would require additional subvention on top of the temporary wage subsidy scheme and we are in dialogue with Department officials on that.

There was no particular capital funding in the July stimulus. Again, that is something we have sought particularly for our aviation sector. We also sought such funding for the redevelopment of the Bunratty folk park and we will continue to be in dialogue about both of those.

We will of course be in discussion with staff once we have clarity on the situation.