Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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499. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the allocation that his Department made for outdoor dining in 2022. [29515/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In 2021, due to the ongoing pandemic and health related restrictions imposed on businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector, €3.62 million, was provided from the Local Government Fund to assist local authorities in supporting an outdoor summer for locals and visitors alike. A proportional allocation, linked to population size was provided for most local authorities, along with a flat allocation for Dublin, Cork and Galway City Councils given their position as congregation centres for the surrounding areas.

The scheme was specifically designed not to be prescriptive but included, for example, the provision and cleaning of portaloos and litter bins in public places, the pedestrianisation of streets and the provision of outdoor dining facilities, or any other measures which facilitated people in outdoor sites around the country. These sites included parks, beaches, greenways, pedestrianised streets or other popular visitor sites in a local authority area.

With the improved conditions and the relaxation of restrictions, it is not proposed to provide an allocation for an outdoor summer in 2022.