Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming in to take this matter. I wish to discuss with him the need for some type of support schemes or compensation measures to assist businesses and individuals dependant on seasonal tourism, in particular, where there is a very substantial reduction in available tourism accommodation, due to the fact that hotels and other accommodation providers are now providing accommodation for refugees. This, of course, has a significant impact on local businesses depending on tourists and visitors alike in the short and long term. While this issue impacts on a number of different places in my constituency and elsewhere, I raise it in the context of a meeting I attended earlier this week with my colleagues, Deputy MacSharry and the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, in Rosses Point, County Sligo, on Monday last. As a follow-up to that meeting, Deputy MacSharry suggested tabling a Topical Issue matter. We agreed to do that.

I will be crystal clear. The tone and content of the meeting at Rosses Point was constructive and sought solutions. There was no blame game and no anti-refugee sentiment. In fact, it was the opposite. There was, however, a recognition that the impact of a huge increase in the population of Rosses Point and the consequent impact on all public services, as well as the loss of significant numbers of beds for the upcoming tourism season, must be managed for the community, businesses and refugees. As one man at the meeting said, if the situation were reversed, he would not want to be stuck in a hotel in Ukraine.

It is in that context and framework of seeking solutions and managing the situation that I will mention the broader need for accelerated and co-ordinated action, first, to appoint a dedicated community liaison officer to help ensure integration of new arrivals in the area, second, to increase bus capacity to and from Rosses Point, especially at peak times and school times and, third, increase policing in the peninsula to help ensure security for all. I will tease out the final issue a little more. This is the need to appoint a dedicated tourism officer to address the loss of revenue to local, tourism-dependent businesses. It is important to remember that those businesses employ people, support the fabric of Rosses Point, and pay taxes and rates to maintain the area. If they close or downsize, the impact is felt throughout the community.

I ask the Minister of State to consider some Covid-type supports for businesses that are interdependent on tourism accommodation. We are speaking of restaurants, bars, and businesses involving maritime or other leisure activities. Approximately 25% of the tourism accommodation outside Dublin is now devoted to housing refugees. In some places, such as Rosses Point, the figure is much higher. Is there any possibility of some kind of support scheme specifically for those businesses where it can be shown that the impact is substantial? It is not just support schemes for loss of income. It is also about greater marketing for areas that are worst affected. That is where a dedicated tourism officer could help to support business.

The first stage was helping to house refugees. I am fully supportive of that, as are the people who attended that meeting. The next stage is to support both communities and refugees. We are now at the next stage. I want to hear what plans the Government has in place for that.

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