Dáil debates

Wednesday, 6 May 2020

Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements

 

3:15 pm

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Many facts, statistics and truths regarding the Irish tourism industry will be disclosed in this Chamber this afternoon. To my mind, however, the most important truth, dare I say it, is that County Kerry is the jewel in the crown of the Irish tourism industry, hosting 2.2 million overseas and Irish visitors every year. Last year alone, tourism was worth some €661 million to Kerry and supported one in five of our workforce and their families. Now, all our hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast accommodation, bus operators, restaurants, pubs and visitor facilities are in lockdown. Covid-19 has forced 82% of the hospitality workforce into unemployment.

Tourism supply and support businesses have also been severely affected, with thousands of employees out of work and companies struggling simply to survive.

The hit to Kerry is likely to be in the order of between €300 million and €400 million and will impact on every town, village and local community in my home county. We now have a provisional timetable for the reopening of the tourism sector, but if tourism is to survive and ultimately thrive post-Covid-19, it needs much more than just a timetable.

In that regard, I ask the Minister for State to consider and address the following points. Why have seasonal workers, so vital to the tourism industry, been excluded from the Covid-19 payment? Will the Department insist on a VAT rate of 0% for a two-year period with immediate effect, followed by a scaled increase to a maximum of 9%? Will the Minister of State commit to rate relief for six or nine months, with a further commitment to fund local authorities for revenues lost? Will he consider a revision of the criteria for local enterprise office, LEO, support mechanisms to facilitate employment grants for the tourism sector? Will he also consider a rebate on insurance premiums for the periods that businesses are closed? Will he consider a business reactivation fund to support businesses in reopening? We require a fair and equitable reopening schedule for restaurants, public houses and other facilities so that no single sector is disadvantaged by virtue of the timetable. I also suggest an extension of the wage subsidy scheme for a further six to 12 months.

Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá maidir leis na coláistí Gaeilge shamhraidh. Is gné fhíorthábhachtach iad den tionscal turasóireachta. Mar is eol don Aire, ní bheidh dalta ar bith i nGaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne, nó aon Ghaeltacht eile, an samhradh seo. De bharr sin, ní bheidh aon airgead á dhéanamh ag an eacnamaíocht áitiúil, ag na mná tí, agus mar sin de. Caithfear roinnt mhaith tacaíochtaí a chur ar bun chun cinntiú go mairfidh na coláistí agus an eacnamaíocht áitiúil sna blianta atá amach romhainn. Tá an t-am caite, so fágfaidh mé aige sin é.

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