Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Coming from the tourism capital of the western world, namely County Kerry, the great success that the people in Kerry have had in the past in working so hard in the tourism sector has led to them being impacted more than perhaps anywhere else because of the reliance we had on the excellent service we were providing in the tourism sector. I welcome many of the support schemes that are in place and I appreciate the efforts of the Government and different Departments.

However, I must highlight also the inadequacies in the schemes, for instance, the number of people who contact me in my office on a daily basis with regard to the CRSS. These people were impacted because they did not have premises and they were debarred from availing of assistance. This has created an awful problem for many businesses that should be entitled to assistance but find themselves falling between two stools when it comes to applying for assistance and funding. People in the music industry have seen their sector decimated. In many cases, those people are struggling. I have encountered situations where a person was working part time at music and part time at another job, and that other work is also gone. Such persons are doubly impacted. Of course, like everyone in the country, they are hurting. Indeed, as we were talking about taxis, I had a Zoom meeting the other evening with a number of taxi people from Killarney town and other parts of the county where we discussed their issues, problems and difficulties. I am very fearful for the future of the excellent taxi service people that we have, and both they and, in tourism, the coach operators and small tour operators whom I have dealt a lot with over the past number of weeks and months, are fearful for their futures, when, please God, things get back to normal, that they will be able to go back into business.

There is great thanks going to the efforts being made but I do not want to see situations where people are falling behind. That is why, with the new announcement by the Taoiseach yesterday evening, it is important that the Government redoubles its efforts and deals with the Department of Social Protection and all the other Departments in ensuring that we pick up and help the people and the different sectors and groups that are being left behind.

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