Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a series of matters raised by an organisation (details supplied) will be examined; if she will ensure that there will be additional resources to assist the sector to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47233/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Officials in my Department and I have engaged continuously with the tourism sector throughout the pandemic, with a view to ensuring that the appropriate supports are in place to ensure that this critically important sector can survive and recover.  The Tourism and Hospitality Forum, which I co-chair with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has also provided an important mechanism through which we are engaging with the wider sector.

Measures taken by Government, such as the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme, and sector-specific measures for tourism such as business continuity grants and the lower VAT rate have all been critical in supporting businesses and jobs. 

Taking account of 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. I am conscious in particular of the importance of tourism to regional economies such as Mayo and I will carefully consider the submission from the organisation to which the Deputy refers in this regard.