Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Internationally, tourism continues to recover steadily, yet several challenges remain, from geopolitical to economic. The combination of increasing interest rates in all major economies, rising energy and food prices and the growing prospects of a global recession are major threats to the recovery of international tourism for 2023. Hotel capacity, energy costs and labour shortages will continue to challenge the tourism industry here in Ireland this year. Though the strong early recovery of inbound tourism to Ireland last year is very welcome, significant headwinds face the sector in 2023. To assist businesses, including hotels, the Government introduced the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, in budget 2023. The TBESS is designed to support businesses, including hotels, with their energy costs over the winter months and will run until 28 February 2023. The TBESS is administered by the Revenue Commissioners who have designed a special online platform for businesses to register for, and claim under, the scheme.

From a tourism perspective, I am continuing to direct significant resources to supporting the sustainable recovery of the sector. I secured €15 million in additional funding for overseas marketing of Ireland. This budget also contains an additional €15 million for a range of industry initiatives, including €3 million in continuation of the investment in skills development and retention. This provision will facilitate the continuation of work by Fáilte Ireland to address the employment challenges faced by tourism businesses in attracting talent, assisting skills development and retaining staff. My Department and Fáilte Ireland will continue to work with the industry and across Departments to ensure a co-ordinated approach to addressing the labour and skills shortages in the sector across all roles. A €2 million increase in funding for domestic marketing was also secured to promote Ireland's tourism offering to Irish holidaymakers. I have secured additional funding of €3 million to allow Fáilte Ireland to continue its work in the area of sustainability. While the hotel sector faces many challenges, I am confident the supports the Government has put in place will ensure Ireland's hotels are well positioned to maintain current levels of recovery and to grow sustainably in the coming years.

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