Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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37. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of her engagements with the hotel sector to ensure that price-gouging is stopped; the plans that are in place to address the soaring hotel costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32462/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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As we enter the peak summer months and the tourism industry recovers, there is inevitably additional pressure on hotel capacity and pricing.  

Hotel supply in Dublin has been challenged and affected by a range of factors, and businesses are facing significant cost pressures due to inflation and other economic factors.  It is important, however, that Ireland maintains a strong focus on protecting its reputation as a value for money destination.

My officials have engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation and the Irish Hotels Federation in order to further understand underlying issues surrounding the recovery of the tourism sector and to emphasise the importance of maintaining a strong value proposition at the core of tourism.  They are also working with the tourism agencies to ensure that promotional activity is aligned optimally with supply within the system across the year. 

The Tánaiste and I co-chair the Tourism and Hospitality Forum which is due to meet next week and this will offer a key opportunity to address and discuss these issues.