Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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285. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to provide support to travel agents on the basis that they have been effectively operating at level 5, with little or no travel, in line with Department of Foreign Affairs and public health advice, irrespective of the levels in the national framework for living with Covid-19. [32787/20]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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287. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the aspects of budget 2021 which relate to travel agents taking into account the decline in tourism activities here, particularly under level 5 Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33130/20]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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288. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has raised the issue of travel agents not being eligible for the Covid restrictions support scheme with the Minister for Finance or the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation; the steps he suggests to ensure that travel agents are able to survive while restrictions prohibit their operation and most travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33205/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 285, 287 and 288 together.

I am fully aware that the travel trade sector has not been able to reclaim any meaningful level of lost trade over the past 6 months. It is an SME sector, and as such travels agents and tour operators has access to all of the various business supports made available in the July stimulus package and in last month's Budget. Budget 2021 contains historic levels of State support for the SME sector in the form of wage supports, financial grants and waived commercial rates.

In addition, under current Level 5 Covid restrictions, travel agents and tour operators operating from business premises that customers are prohibited or significantly restricted from accessing may be eligible for the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS). Any queries in relation to the operation of the CRSS should be directed to the Revenue Commissioners. Taken together, I would be hopeful that these significant measures will help safeguard the travel sector throughout the difficult months ahead so that it will be ready to trade fully again when circumstances permit.