Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has met with a sporting organisation (details supplied) to discuss barriers to attendance at games due to scarcity of hotel accommodation and increasing prices. [32193/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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While I have not had any direct engagement to date on this matter with the organisation mentioned by the Deputy, I am aware that the current levels of hotel accommodation availability and pricing could potentially impact on attendance at sporting events particularly in Dublin.

As Minister Martin has already outlined, there is additional pressure on hotel capacity and pricing as we enter the peak summer months and the tourism industry recovers.

Hotel supply in Dublin has been challenged and affected by a range of factors, some of them short-term. These include deferred business from the last two years and increased demand. Businesses are facing significant cost pressures due to inflation and other economic factors but it is important that Ireland maintains its reputation as a value for money destination. The Government provided strong support to the tourism and hospitality sector over the two years of the Covid pandemic, in the form of direct business continuity payments, wage subsidy schemes and, most recently, the extension of the reduced 9% VAT rate until the end of February 2023. Those supports have helped to sustain this vital economic sector. Significant funding support was also provided to sporting organisations in 2020 and 2021 to assist them in meeting the challenges of Covid. This funding was particularly important for those National Governing Bodies that depend on revenue from gate receipts and spectator attendance.    Since the restrictions on spectator attendance were lifted, spectators have returned to sporting events in great numbers. I hope that this will continue to be the case for upcoming events.

We are entering into a period in which large numbers of people will be travelling to games across the country, it is important for the promotion of participation in sport that those who need to be able to access accommodation at a price point which provides them with value. Tourism officials within the Department will continue to monitor the situation over the coming weeks.