Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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172. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider devising a bursary scheme to help accommodation and tourism providers in towns like Lisdoonvarna, County Clare who are struggling, owing to the major role their town has played in providing accommodation to Ukrainian refugees, to attract tourists and make a sustainable income this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25458/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The arrival of refugees from the war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants, has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. The national response to this challenge is underpinned by an all-of-Government approach.

Ireland is now accommodating over 85,000 people, compared with 8,300 in February 2022. This is equivalent to the population of Galway City and serviced accommodation within the tourism sector, hotels primarily, has been to the fore in meeting this immediate need.

The Government is focused on how to continue the sustained support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, including those already here, as well as those likely to be further displaced by the ongoing conflict. As part of this, the Government is agreed that a move from an emergency response to a more mainstreamed approach, including a reduced reliance on serviced accommodation, is appropriate.

Demand for Irish tourism, both from abroad and at home, is very strong and the sector, supported by Government, has shown great resilience in rebuilding after Covid. However, I am concerned regarding the potential downstream impacts on tourism businesses of the removal of registered tourism accommodation from the tourism market.

I have raised this concern with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, and other Government colleagues and I have asked my officials and Fáilte Ireland to do further work on this issue as we approach peak season. That work will focus on emerging trends in the 2023 season, with a particular focus on those parts of the country that are most affected by the loss of tourism accommodation. It will also assess what mitigation measures could be considered if the scale of the impact is sufficient to warrant this.