Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which employment in the tourism sector continues to improve; the measures taken or likely to generate growth in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27391/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The most recent CSO figures for overseas visits to Ireland show that visitor numbers grew by 7.5% in the period from February to April 2014 when compared to the corresponding period of 2013. Since the Government came to office, the annual total number of international visitors coming to Ireland has increased by more than a million and is almost certain to exceed 7 million this year. By the end of last year, it was estimated by the CSO that 137,000 people were employed in the accommodation and food service sectors alone. This represented an increase of almost 14% or 17,300 extra jobs since 2012.  The most recent CSO Quarterly National Household Survey reported that seasonally adjusted employment in the sector increased by 14,000 from the first quarter of 2014 when compared to the equivalent period in 2013.  That is an increase of 11% in the year to Quarter 1 2014.  It is also equal to the highest ever employment figure for the sector in the first quarter, which was recorded in Q1 2007.

In terms of measures to generate further growth in the sector, an extensive promotional programme is underway this year with a view to continuing to grow visitor numbers to Ireland. The year has got off to a positive start and overall sentiment for travel to Ireland is largely positive. In view of this work by the tourism agencies, and other measures such as the retention of the 9% VAT rate, the reduction of the air travel tax to zero, the recently announced joint visa initiative between Ireland and the United Kingdom and increased air access to Ireland, I am confident that the prospects for Irish tourism remain positive.