Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

We have had the debate and there is a difference. We are in the minority. I agree with Deputy Mattie McGrath and others concerned about the rural-urban divide, or the areas that have seen recovery in this sector against those which have not. Those areas need help. There is another side to the equation that can be seen with the figures we got from the Department of Finance concerning profitability in food services and accommodation. Profits have increased by a fairly extraordinary 37%, so the areas that have recovered are making extraordinary profits. Would it not be better to redirect this tax expenditure towards the areas that need help, such as the rural areas mentioned by the Deputies? That is instead of giving this big tax break to all elements of the tourism, accommodation and food sector. I know it will not happen this year but it might be worth considering for next year. We could redirect the tax expenditure to help some of the areas that clearly are struggling or where resources could better assist in sharing the recovery.

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