Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The hospitality sector has suffered enormously since the pandemic began. As the Minister is aware, people had barely settled back to work when it was deemed necessary to implement further restrictions. Hotels are being particularly hard hit by these restrictions. Room bookings, meetings and numerous events have been cancelled. This will drastically curtail seasonal trading for hotels in Tipperary and throughout the country. They most certainly will not have the thin layer of financial security they had hoped for as they head into the bleak months of January and February. It has been highlighted extensively by many in the sector that they have had difficulties in hiring staff since they reopened. Most are operating on a skeleton staff or are seriously understaffed. Those who manage to hire staff are anxious to hold onto them but they are worried they will be unable to afford to do so. Hotels are seeking support in the form of the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, to enable them to retain their staff until the easing of restrictions permit them to trade fully.

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