Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this. It is a serious issue and one that it is right and valid to raise. There are a lot of tourism towns in the country that are being adversely affected by the fact that we had no alternative but to accommodate so many people fleeing the war in Ukraine and fleeing war in other parts of the world in tourist accommodation. Whether it is Killarney, Westport, towns in north Clare or lots of other parts of the country, particularly down the west coast, while the hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation may be full, the restaurants, bars and attractions will see less custom by virtue of the fact that those beds have been taken up by refugees. We understand that this is a problem and that those businesses will be hurting, and we are looking at ways for how we can help. Fáilte Ireland, the tourism development authority, is working on proposals but we have to get them right and we have to do it at a time when we need to bear in mind that huge numbers of other businesses are experiencing labour shortages. We have to make sure, therefore, that the right sort of intervention is taken. One simple one which the Minister is doing, with Fáilte Ireland, is encouraging more day trips to tourism towns so at least that will help the attractions, bars and restaurants but that cannot be the solution on its own. Other businesses will need help too, particularly the attractions, and we are examining options in that regard.

It is not right, however, to make it just an urban-rural issue. You only have to walk up the road to the north inner city to see how many people from Ukraine and from all over the world are now taking shelter there. If you go to Dublin 8 or my constituency of Dublin 15 you will see that it is not just about rural Ireland. Urban Ireland is diverse and multicultural and it has taken in people from all over the world, workers and refugees. It is wrong, therefore, simply to try to pit urban Ireland against rural Ireland in that sense. I do acknowledge that there is a particular issue with tourism towns and non-accommodation tourist businesses that are losing out. We need to help them out and we are working on proposals to do exactly that.

Again, we should not lose sight of the bigger picture; Europe is at war and terrible things are happening beyond the boundaries of Europe. Nearly 100,000 people have sought refuge in Ireland and as a country and society we have provided them with shelter, food, accommodation, employment and education. That is something I am proud of, quite frankly, and I hope the Deputy will agree that those who are fleeing persecution and war, particularly from Ukraine, are welcome in Ireland. Let us not forget that 10,000 now live in pledged accommodation in people's homes or in vacant properties given up to them. That is a decent number. It was a slow start but it is a pretty decent number at this stage. We will have the first modular homes open in June and refurbished homes and properties are being delivered. Through the community integration fund about €50 million will be allocated to communities to recognise the fact that they have welcomed people from overseas.

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