Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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505. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the call of an organisation (details supplied) for a substantial increase in the business continuity fund for coach tourism to reflect the real and actual damage done to the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32983/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am acutely aware of the devastating loss of business being experienced by the Coach Tourism sector. In this context I was pleased to make €10m available as part of the Government’s July Stimulus to assist the sector. The Coach Tourism Business Continuity Scheme, which is administered by Fáilte Ireland, opened for applications on the 15th October.

Budget 2021 included a number of further substantial measures to support and strengthen the tourism sector and are supplemented by the economy-wide business supports and social welfare measures. The supports available to tourism businesses will continue to be reviewed as we seek to protect viable businesses and prepare for recovery in the sector.