James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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487. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a sufficient capacity of hotel beds in County Wexford; the supports made available to the hotels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22054/18]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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Fáilte Ireland monitors the performance of tourist accommodation through regular occupancy surveys.  The analysis indicates that while the country as a whole has sufficient stock of tourist accommodation, there are capacity constraints in areas of high tourist traffic at times of peak demand and additional capacity is required in certain parts of the country. 

I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide information in relation to capacity in Wexford as well as what business supports are available to hotels directly to the Deputy.  I ask him to contact my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.

The Deputy may be interested to know that in response to consumer preference, and in order to boost the economic rationale for investment in hotel development, Fáilte Ireland's revised Registration and Renewal of Registrations Regulations for Hotels 2016 came into operation on 1st August 2016.  Changes set out in the Regulations should make investment more attractive by allowing hotel operators provide more rooms per square metre and thereby 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.