Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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316. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will introduce a continuity grant scheme for inbound tour operators similar to that introduced in Budget 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46678/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Ireland Based Inbound Agents Business Continuity Scheme, was introduced to assist Republic of Ireland based Inbound Tour Operators, Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) who package, sell and distribute Ireland’s tourism product overseas and have suffered significant losses as a result of COVID-19.

The overall purpose of the scheme was to help Irish Based Inbound Agents to withstand the impact of COVID-19 by providing a direct financial contribution to support their business continuity plans and to seek position them to continue operating through 2021.

Informed by the recommendations in the latest report from the Recovery Oversight Group, and in the context of Budget 2022, I am working with officials and Government colleagues to establish what further supports can be put in place for the sector.