Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Question No. 1 of 17 November 2022, if she will provide an update on whether the wide range of alternative options being explored by the Government will be made available in time for the reopening of hotels to tourists in summer 2023, and on the engagement carried out by her Department on the senior officials group, including a copy of or details of the concerns she communicated on behalf of the tourism sector to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and any response received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3676/23]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Further to Question No. 1 of 17 November 2022, will the Minister provide an update on whether the wide range of alternative options being explored by the Government will be made available in time for the reopening of hotels to tourism in summer 2023, and on the engagement carried out by her Department on the senior officials group, including a copy of or details of the concerns she communicated on behalf of the tourism sector to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth?

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants, continues to put real pressure on the Government's ability to offer humanitarian accommodation and has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is availing of the wide range of offers of accommodation made to it, including the use of office buildings and sports facilities, to address the accommodation shortfall. These options are necessary to provide shelter to international protection arrivals, to meet basic needs and to prevent homelessness.

The Government is focused on how to continue the sustained support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, including those already here as well as those likely to be further displaced by the ongoing conflict. As part of this, the Government agreed that a move from an emergency response to a more mainstreamed approach, including a reduced reliance on serviced accommodation, is appropriate. This includes an increased focus on rapid-build housing and a new call for vacant homes led by local authorities.

I can confirm that the Government has approved the construction of 700 rapid-build homes with the potential to house up to 2,800 individuals in family units. The rapid-build homes will be constructed on State-owned land. The Office of Public Works, OPW, is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. The objective is to install 500 units by March-April 2023.

My Department, at the senior officials group on Ukraine, has communicated the potential challenges arising for the tourism ecosystem, particularly in those parts of the country where high proportions of the tourism accommodation stock are directed to humanitarian purposes. The recent report from the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, which called for a reduced dependence on tourism accommodation and a geographically balanced spreading of such usage across the country, is relevant in this context.

My officials are engaging with a range of Departments, with input from colleagues in Fáilte Ireland, on how best to mitigate the potential impacts on the wider tourism ecosystem of long-term use of tourism accommodation. Analysis is being done on those towns or areas most impacted in this regard, with a focus on the sectoral skills at risk and the businesses suffering most from the lack of tourism accommodation. My Department will engage further on that analysis in the period ahead.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. You will have a chance to come back in.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Minister said, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation compiled a report that revealed that more than one in five tourist beds in Ireland are contracted by the State. That is 22% of the country's tourism accommodation capacity, including 15% of hotel rooms, to provide shelter for those fleeing Ukraine and the thousands of other asylum seekers from other countries. The fear is that the tourism season starts in early March and, judging from what the Minister has said, the figures are particularly high outside Dublin. There does not seem to be a real plan. The OPW said earlier in the week that 200 rapid-build homes would be available between early and mid-2023. The Minister has said there are 500, but I have seen no evidence of that and there is no guarantee or commitment. The fear is that the tourism sector will not be fully open for the early part of the tourism season. What plans are there for those who are currently in hotel rooms? Where do they go?

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have regular interaction with my colleagues in the Government on this issue and have communicated the industry's concerns about the long-term effect this issue could potentially have on our tourism sector, especially, as the Deputy said, with the tourism season really kicking off in March.

I meet the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, every week and have discussed the impact of the humanitarian response on tourism with him and other Cabinet colleagues.

The Government has approved the construction of rapid-build homes, with the potential to house up to 2,800 individuals and family units. These will be built on State-owned land. After a programme of engagement with public representatives and local authorities, work has begun on the first phase of sites in Cork, Cavan, Claremorris, Mallow and Thurles. Following further engagement and the completion of suitability assessment work, further sites will come on stream in the coming weeks.

I met the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, ITIC, in December following the publication of its report on the impact of the Ukrainian conflict. Officials in my Department and Fáilte Ireland meet representatives of the tourism sector monthly. These meetings are hosted by Fáilte Ireland. The hospitality and tourism forum that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, and I will co-chair will meet next week to hear and address concerns.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

From the start, hotel accommodation was seen as a short-term solution. It is not an ideal medium-to-long-term solution for the families involved. We are six weeks away from when the tourism season starts. The Minister is not responsible for sourcing accommodation, and I am not for one moment saying she is, but she is responsible for the tourism sector. Apart from the OPW's 200 rapid-build homes that may be ready between early April and mid-2023, there does not seem to be a plan, which has been the problem from the start. There are no figures. We do not want to reach a point of chaos. The ITIC has been saying this since November, but the Government has had since last March to plan. We are in unprecedented and difficult circumstances, but that is being compounded by the Government's lack of planning.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To clarify, there will be 700 rapid-build homes. There will be up to 6,000 beds available in the coming months through the combination of rapid-build homes, the work on vacant homes that is being led by local authorities and the refurbishment work led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am in regular engagement with the tourism sector and am fully cognisant of its concerns. I will meet it again through the tourism and hospitality forum with the Minister, Deputy Coveney. We are also concerned about the impact on ancillary businesses. We will consider supports for tourism and hospitality in the coming weeks.