Written answers

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she plans to introduce a scheme of Covid-19 related supports for tourist related businesses with a turnover of less than €50,000 on the islands and the mainland, similar to that introduced by her for businesses with a turnover of more than €50,0000; the reason they were excluded from the original scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21084/21]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The focus of the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme is to support strategic tourism businesses to offset fixed costs incurred in 2020, particularly those that are ineligible for the CRSS, and support them to continue operating through 2021.  One of the eligibility criteria for the scheme is a minimum annual turnover of €50,000.  The rationale for this threshold is based on the likelihood that, for businesses with a turnover of less than €50,000, non-payroll fixed costs will be sufficiently low to enable the owners furlough the business by availing of other state aids (namely income supports such as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS)), thereby enabling these businesses to re-emerge as public health restrictions ease. 

I am committed to continuing support for tourism through this difficult period and to working towards reopening and recovery.  As part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, Government will be outlining how it will help people return to work and further support sectors which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.  Along with my colleagues in Government, I will consider more targeted measures to help reboot tourism, which will face particular challenges during the recovery phase when the economy reopens. 

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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75. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration has been given to introducing a voucher scheme to stimulate tourism and hospitality as Covid-19 restrictions are eased. [21962/21]

Photo of Imelda MunsterImelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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116. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she plans to introduce a tourism voucher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21958/21]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 116 together.

The Stay and Spend scheme was set up late last summer to provide targeted support in the off season to accommodation and hospitality businesses most affected by continued restrictions. Established by my colleague Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, this scheme was launched as an innovative approach to incentivise spending in tourism and hospitality. However, public health conditions beyond our control have clearly prevented that. The stop and start nature of the pandemic and the unpredictable consequences of it have resulted in the scheme being underutilised and it is now scheduled to expire at the end of April. It is anticipated that my colleague the Minster for Finance will then take stock and look to what additional measures might be appropriate to put in place.

There have been other very effective supports in place, including the EWSS, CRSS and the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme for strategic tourism businesses. Government has confirmed there will be no cliff edge in supports and we will consider sector specific supports as needed for the recovery of tourism and hospitality as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan. We are hopeful that the summer season will be buoyed by strong numbers in domestic tourism providing much needed business activity within the sector, however, I am cognisant of the seasonal nature of the industry and financial challenges the leaner shoulder and off season months could bring.

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