Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1067. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans a staycation voucher scheme to stimulate local tourism here; if so, his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6757/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The importance of Tourism in Ireland cannot be understated. It is a vital industry, which supported over 260,000 jobs all around the country prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Tourism is one of the most directly affected sectors in this current crisis. This is of course a concerning time for everyone in tourism. Minister Griffin and I have established an appropriate taskforce of industry, agency and departmental expertise tasked with producing a Tourism Recovery Plan. This plan will include a set of recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can recover in the changed tourism environment following the Covid-19 crisis.

In common with other sectors, tourism businesses are also availing of the wide range of Government supports put in place to respond to this crisis. My Department is continuing to liaise with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and industry representative bodies, to align the economy wide COVID-19 supports and initiatives with tourism and hospitality needs.