Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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292. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the likelihood of increased employment arising from expansion of business in the catering sector in the course of the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23360/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Fáilte Ireland estimate that approximately 185,000 people now work in the tourism and hospitality sector which is 5,000 higher than their previous estimate. I am hopeful that the increased activity this year as a result of The Gathering combined with the initiatives taken by the Government to reduce costs in the tourism and hospitality sector such as the reduced VAT rate, the higher VAT cash threshold and the reduced PRSI rate will spur further job creation this year.  In this regard the growth in numbers of overseas visitors of 7.4% in the first three months compared to the equivalent period last year is a positive indicator.