Mr. Cian ? Lion?in:

Yes. There are two key challenges for the sector - staffing and cost. Regarding cost, which is not always the same as value for money, an important message for tourism and hospitality is that it is vital that the sector maintain its long-term value for money proposition. We will never be the cheapest destination in the world. As such, it is about providing good value and thinking about pricing in the long term.

Fáilte Ireland is doing a great deal of work on accessing talent pools. We are on the COG, where we work with Fáilte Ireland. Fáilte Ireland is giving support to the industry to build relationships with further and higher education providers. It is considering opportunities overseas, including specific trade and recruitment fairs. It is working with the Department of Social Protection on the pathways to work strategy and trying to improve opportunities for tourism businesses to recruit from the live register. It is also focusing on transition year to try to build a relationship with the sector and have it seen as a career for life. Fáilte Ireland is doing a great deal of work internationally. It is also engaging with the European employment services, EURES, platform, which is a European co-operation network for employment services. Within the COG, Fáilte Ireland is leading a new working group to support the industry in accessing talent pools in wider EU markets. We are competing with other economies in that regard, but our Department is trying to support Fáilte Ireland in that work so as to ensure that the sector can continue to grow in the coming years.