Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Chambers for raising this issue and it is important that it is raised and discussed. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, who has addressed the matter previously. She recognises the importance of the tourism sector to the Irish economy and to communities in every corner of Ireland. She has a particular interest in the development of the tourism sector, given its environmental, economic and societal benefits. In this regard, a balanced regional supply of tourism accommodation is key.

As the Senator said, she raised this issue last May. Since then, Fáilte Ireland has been working on increasing the accommodation audits to which she referred and which are establishing a baseline for existing capacity and providing a gap analysis in each destination and region. As part of the roll-out of all destination experience development plans, one of which has been completed in the Westport area, Fáilte lreland has carried out an audit and is mapping out current accommodation stock. This includes a quality and gap analysis for additional accommodation development on a county-by-county basis. Fáilte Ireland is using these audits to inform local authorities to allow them to shape their specific tourism accommodation strategies.

The war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants, has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State’s history. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is engaged across government concerning temporary accommodation for those in need of shelter and is responsible for all contracted accommodation used to house Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection and other international protection applicants. As referred to by the Senator, Failte Ireland has carried out a detailed analysis of data provided by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth concerning the bed stock under contract to accommodate Ukrainian and international protection applicants, which established that 13% of the Failte Ireland registered tourism stock was under contract. As referenced by Senator Chambers, that analysis also identified that in five counties more than 20% of the registered stock is used for humanitarian purposes, including in Mayo and peaking at 33% in Clare.

On foot of the Senator’s intervention in May and the work that has been done, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has, at the senior officials group on Ukraine, communicated the potential challenges arising for the tourism ecosystem, particularly in those parts of the country where high proportions of the tourist accommodation stock are directed to humanitarian purposes.As part of this year's budget, the Minister has secured an extra €10 million for 2024 for a comprehensive programme of supports that will be targeted at the downstream tourism businesses referred to by the Senator, which are experiencing a particular trading challenge linked to the reduction in footfall to activities and attractions in regions most impacted by tourism bed stock displacement.

This programme of supports includes investment in sustainable tourism development and promotion, industry digitalisation, promotion of domestic tourism and festivals and recruitment and retention initiatives. The Minister has also asked Fáilte Ireland to engage with impacted businesses to consider the scope for a specific business support scheme that could affect the most affected tourism activities and attractions. I am led to believe that a report in this regard is due to be submitted imminently to the Department.

Fáilte Ireland is also in the process of conducting an analysis of current data provided by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, concerning tourism accommodation under State contract. This data, in addition to a strong evidence base from impacted downstream businesses, will be critically important to gain a full understanding of how tourism accommodation stock displacement has negatively impacted the tourism sector.