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

This Government has hugely stepped up for tourism since 2020 and the start of the Covid crisis, with funding of €216 million to the sector, which is an increase of 33% on the 2020 level. In the intervening period, massive additional support was pumped into the sector, with my Department's funding for tourism reaching a peak of €286 million in 2022. Today, thankfully much of the tourism sector has recovered to a significant extent. The Covid crisis is over, although a range of challenges remain. Tourism demand, airline capacity and intention to travel to and within Ireland are at strong levels. In the context of this four-year arc of collapse and recovery, it is entirely reasonable that some of the one-off supports we put in place in recent years will taper off. What I have managed to do in this budget is maintain most of the additional funding I had last year. I am aware of the wider costs of doing business for the sector and the Government has taken a range of steps to help address this. As Minister with responsibility for tourism, I have fought hard to help bring this sector through the worst of the Covid crisis and the strength of the sector today is a testament to the collaborative approach we have taken with the tourism agencies, the sector itself and key stakeholders. As I said, I will engage with and meet ITIC early next week.

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