Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and the Minister State. I will be brief. Starting with the Minister, I have two observations to which she may or may not wish to respond. In her opening statement, the Minister alluded to the important part and role our tourism industry has played during this awful war in Ukraine to house the refugees coming here from that country. We have had many hearings prior to this year. There is deep concern regarding Government contracts coming to an end in the hospitality sector for these hotels and tourism venues that are currently housing refugees. Does the Minister's Department have any insight concerning how many venues are considering coming out of those contracts? How many beds will the tourism industry get back? This is important as well, because I know all those working in the tourism sector want to get back into that area of welcoming visitors for tourism purposes. The knock-on effect of this development, however, will be the question of how many people this will put on the streets and ultimately under more pressure with their housing departments. Do we have any insight concerning the number of beds that will go back into the tourism industry or that are no longer going to be continued with under these Government contracts?