Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil mé buartha faoi todhchaí go leor de na ceantracha is iargúlta sa Stát seo. Bíonn na hoileáin amuigh ón gcósta ag brath ar turasóireacht, agus níl tionscal ar bith eile i mbailte beaga ar an gcósta. Tá siad ag brath ina iomláine ar thurasóireacht. Teastaíonn cinnteacht uathu go mbeidh airgead ag teacht isteach chucu láithreach. Is mór an trua í go bhfuil éiginnteacht fós ann i measc gnólachtaí agus teaghlaigh, fiú amháin tar éis seoladh an July stimulus agus an reachtaíocht seo.

I am concerned there is a lack of understanding of the economic reality of many families, as well as many communities. I think particularly of those businesses and the communities they sustain in areas heavily reliant on tourism. In concept, the stay and spend initiative is great but, unfortunately, the reality is way off the mark. It seems to be a copy of the Sinn Féin proposal for a voucher scheme gone wrong.

10 o’clock

The Government has said that about 2.8 million people will avail of the stay and spend initiative but once again people have been left out. Sinn Féin has pointed out that many people do not pay income tax because they do not have enough of an income to incur a tax liability. Some of the lowest paid workers in the State do not earn enough to pay income tax so they are excluded. The Government has said that the credit could then be set against the claimant's universal social charge liability but as the Department of Finance's own ready reckoner shows, an estimated 715,600 taxpayers do not pay either income tax or USC.

There is a large cohort of people who are very uncertain about their financial future, including people who are currently out of work due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, people who are working but are concerned that the company they work for may no longer be viable and small business owners who are deeply worried that they will have to close their doors. We should be realistic: waiting a year or two to claim back their tax is not an option for these people. They do not have money in their back pockets now, and even if they did, they do not know when they might need it for an emergency as there is so little financial security. Not only would a voucher scheme have allowed an immediate cash injection into local businesses, which in turn would have boosted the economies of many of our most rural and isolated communities, it would also have given much-needed relief to families, workers and all those who have struggled in recent months. They would have been able to go for a day trip with their children, a meal in a restaurant or even a staycation.

Sinn Féin also proposed a VAT reduction targeted to the tourism and hospitality sector from 13.5% to 9%. This sector, on which many of the most rural areas in the west and on the offshore islands are reliant, is on its knees. They are so reliant on this sector because successive Governments have failed to provide the infrastructure and investment necessary to build indigenous businesses or attract other industries. There is poor road, sewerage and water infrastructure as well as zero broadband in many communities.

Under the terms of the revised restart grant, support will also be provided for enterprises that were unable to access the original grant scheme. I do not doubt that this support has come about as a result of many Members highlighting their concerns. It means that non-rateable bed and breakfast accommodation providers or sports businesses will be eligible for a grant payment of €4,000. Non-rated bed and breakfast accommodation providers will be eligible to apply through Fáilte Ireland, with local authorities being the avenue for these other businesses. However, there has been no clarity on when the application process will open. These businesses need to access these grants immediately but the websites of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Fáilte Ireland and many local authorities merely say that applications will open in due course. Will the Minister give a date, perhaps in writing, for when the application process will officially open?

Teastaíonn cabhair uathu anois. Teastaíonn cabhair ó mhuintir na háiteanna seo chun na pobail seo a choinneáil ag imeacht ionas go mbeidh na pobail sna ceantracha is iargúlta fós ann nuair a bheimid in ann an tír a athoscailt i gceart, agus nuair a bheidh turasóirí ag teacht ar ais go hÉirinn. Nuair a thagann na turasóirí sin, ní theastaíonn uainn go mbeidh na bailte tréigthe leis na daoine agus na teaghlaigh óga imithe go Meiriceá, chun na hAstráile nó chun na hEorpa mar a tharla i gcás chuile ghlúin roimhe seo.

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