Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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219. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the degree to which adequate hotel bed accommodation continues to be available in order to meet the requirements of the tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49628/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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220. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the areas throughout the country which appear to be sufficient in terms of adequate hotel and guest house bed accommodation to meet the demands of the tourism sector; his plans to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49629/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.

Fáilte Ireland monitors the performance of tourist accommodation through regular occupancy surveys.  This analysis indicates that while the country as a whole has sufficient stock of tourist accommodation, there are capacity constraints in certain areas of high tourist traffic at times of peak demand.  According to Fáilte Ireland, capacity constraints in those areas of high tourist traffic outside of Dublin (such as Galway city and Cork city) are limited to the peak tourist season.  In Dublin city, however, constraints occur throughout much of the year indicating that additional capacity is required.

In this context, Fáilte Ireland has commissioned periodic assessments of hotel accommodation in Dublin.  Although the results confirm the current shortage, they also indicate that there should be sufficient stock in the city - whether being developed currently or being planned - to meet projected demand in the future, with the bulk of new stock due to come on-stream after 2018.

With specific regard to factors within my Department's and Fáilte Ireland's remits, revised hotel Regulations were introduced last year in response to consumer preferences and in order to boost the economic rationale for investment in hotel development.  The changes set out in these Regulations should make investment even more attractive by allowing hotel operators provide more rooms and operate at a lower cost base, thereby improving hotel capacity, competitiveness and profitability.  Consumers should also benefit in terms of increased room capacity, competition and range of accommodation.