Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the decision process involved in determining the allocation amounts in relation to the additional outdoor infrastructure fund; the reason partial allocation was not considered rather than either the full allocation or no allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36403/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In April, I was delighted to announce a new ‘Additional Outdoor Infrastructure Fund’ of up to €15 million to support local authorities in enhancing outdoor urban space and improving walking and cycling infrastructure. The fund will assist the safe outdoor re-opening of society as Ireland emerges from the COVID-19 public health restrictions.

Local authorities were invited to apply under the funding stream for short term measures which will help create safe outdoor urban spaces for the public. The measures will need to be quickly implemented and provide areas in villages, towns, and cities where people can walk, cycle and gather outdoors while practising social distancing. The funding will allow for changes to traffic management arrangements to facilitate the reallocation of road space to improve facilities and safety for urban pedestrians and cyclists.

The fund complements other Government initiatives such as Fáilte Ireland’s new €17 million Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme and the €14 million Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Fund for areas outside our cities and towns/villages, recently launched by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The Additional Outdoor Infrastructure Fund is being administered by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of its overall national funding programme. The deadline for applications passed on 14th May 2021 and on 26th May 2021 the NTA issued allocations to eligible projects in 30 local authorities totalling almost €13.39m.

Given the NTA's role in the application and evaluation process, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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134. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36441/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I am fully mindful of the significant impact of the pandemic on the travel trade sector. With no meaningful business since March 2020, I understand the cash flow pressure that travel agents and tour operators are under, and I recognise that many are small family businesses doing the best for their customers.

The main sector-specific response to date was the Refund Credit Note Scheme, introduced last year to help protect liquidity in the face of the legal requirements imposed by the Package Travel Directive. Notes to the value of €17m have been issued. This is money that otherwise would have had to be paid by the sector at the height of the crisis to cover customer refunds at a time that their onward suppliers were not releasing refunds. However I understand the situation in respect to suppliers has regularised in recent months.

Travel agents and tour operators have also availed of central Government supports such as the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) which fall under the remit of my colleagues the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment respectively. These schemes have undoubtedly helped sustain employment in the sector.

While the planned reopening of international travel from July 19th is welcomed by the sector, my Department is maintaining ongoing close engagement with the industry, in particular through contacts with the Irish Travel Agents Association, as we await to see the level of recovery of travel.