Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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536. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which the hotel and catering industry is sufficient to meet the demands of the tourism sector now and for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18058/18]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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The most recent statistics show that hotel room capacity grew by 2% between 2016 and 2017, however, bed capacity grew at a much faster rate of 9% over the same period. Hotel bed occupancy nationally grew from 56% to 60% between 2016 and 2017 while the aggregated bed occupancy rate for other types of accommodation was significantly lower at 42%.

Occupancy rates for hotels are considerably higher in Dublin and have increased as a result of the increased visitor numbers to Ireland in recent years. This has led to capacity issues at times of peak demand. However, a significant programme of hotel building is underway in Dublin to meet this demand. In this regard, research commissioned by Fáilte Ireland shows that significant additional tourist accommodation stock, in the order of 5,500 rooms through new builds and extensions, is being brought on stream in Dublin, the bulk in 2018 and 2019.

In response to consumer preferences and in order to boost the economic rationale for investment in hotel developments, Fáilte Ireland revised its hotel regulations. These changes make investment more attractive by allowing hotel operators provide more rooms per square metre and operate at a lower cost base, thereby improving hotel capacity, competitiveness and profitability. Consumers benefit from increased room capacity, more competition and a wider range of accommodation.

I am not aware of any issues with regard to the availability of restaurants. However, I should point out that they are not required to register with Fáilte Ireland. Given that the level of investment to enter the market is less challenging than that for hotels, I am confident that the market can respond sufficiently quickly to any changes in demand.

Projected skills demands across the economy are being addressed through a combination of measures involving various key stakeholders. I welcome the recent decision by the Minster for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to remove certain chef grades from the ineligible lists of Work Permits from non EEA.

A Hospitality Skills Oversight Group, involving all relevant stakeholders, oversees skills development and promotion in the sector to ensure the skills needs are met. Further specific queries the Deputy may have in relation to this group, should be directed to my colleague the Minister Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

A suite of culinary apprenticeships is being developed and overseen by a collaborative consortium including education and training providers, Fáilte Ireland and other key industry stakeholders. The first of these apprenticeship programmes for commis chefs commenced in autumn 2017 in Educational and Training Boards in various locations around the country.

The Tourism Action Plan 2018-2020, to be finalised shortly by the Tourism Leadership Group, will contain specific actions to address the demands of the tourism sector over the next number of years.

Fáilte Ireland's 'Get Brexit Ready' programme offers a suite of industry supports, designed to help businesses struggling with the loss of trade created by Brexit. The programme allows individual businesses to self-assess their exposures and risks and provides a range of interventions to help overcome any challenges arising from “Brexit”.

Government measures such as reducing the VAT to 9% on tourism services, also helps the industry to further meet the demands of the tourism sector.