Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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452. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if compensation schemes are being worked out to support tourism auxiliary businesses and leisure activity and amenity providers in tourist areas who will likely lose out due to the absence of tourism sufficient accommodation when compared to previous years. [1699/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The supply of tourism accommodation in 2023 due to a range of factors, including Ireland's response to the current humanitarian emergency, is of concern and my officials are engaging with a number of Departments in this regard, including the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth which is working urgently across Government with agencies, NGOs and local authorities to bring new accommodation on board so that the State’s humanitarian responsibilities can be met.

Ireland is resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine and we are honouring our commitment to help people who have been displaced by this horrendous war. This is by some distance the largest humanitarian operation ever undertaken by the Irish State and tourism accommodation has played a vital part in this national response.

While there are no specific plans at this moment for compensation schemes in the wider tourism ecosystem, the Government is monitoring the impact of the humanitarian response on the tourism sector, and I have secured continued additional funding for tourism in Budget 2023 totalling €30 million. Of this, €15 million was secured for overseas marketing of Ireland and the development of The Invitation project. As global competition heightens, sustaining extensive marketing campaigns will be vital to support the on-going recovery effort, building on the initial inbound tourism demand seen in 2022. Ensuring the resilience and growth of this demand is vital to the industry, to jobs and to communities right across the island of Ireland.

Domestically, an additional €15 million will underpin a range of measures to support the sector including boosting the industry’s recruitment and retention efforts, sustainable tourism initiatives and establishment of a register of short-term letting properties as part of the Government’s “Housing for All” reforms.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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454. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost in 2023 if the budget for the Tourism Ireland regional co-operation marketing fund was increased by 75%. [1796/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, Tourism Ireland promotes regional air and sea access to Ireland in overseas tourism markets through initiatives like the Regional Cooperative Marketing Fund. This fundseeks to encourage new access and maximise the potential of existing services to the regions, with matched funding from airlines, sea carriers, airports, ports and regional tourism stakeholders including Local Authorities.

The Regional Cooperative Marketing Fund has been very important in enabling tactical partnerships that have helped drive increases in visitors to the regions, amplifying Ireland's tourism message overseas and supporting direct access. This scheme will continue to form a very important part of Tourism Ireland's plans in supporting the recovery of our tourism sector in a post-pandemic environment.

The allocation to Tourism Ireland in respect of the Regional Cooperative Marketing Fund in 2023 is €3 million, therefore a 75% increase would cost €2.25 million.