Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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920. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the statistics on employment rates in the tourism sector for the past three years; the breakdown by region and by type of employment full-time or seasonal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42347/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Official statistics on employment and Tourism are compiled by Central Statistics Office (CSO) and I am informed that the detailed information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The CSO has, however a number of different statistical releases available with information on Employment in Tourism related industries. One source is the ‘Monthly Estimates of Payroll Employees using Administrative Data Sources’ (MEPEADS) outputs which contain employment figures for the tourism sector (Eurostat definition). It should be noted that MEPEADS estimates are for employees only and do not include persons who are self-employed. Further, they do not contain breakdowns by region, full-time/part-time status or permanency of employment. The most recent MEPEADS figures available are for May 2025 and can be found at the following link: Monthly Estimates of Payroll Employees using Administrative Data May 2025 - Central Statistics Office.

In addition to MEPEADS data, the CSO undertakes a Quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is the official source of labour market estimates for the State. However, the economic sector breakdown in the LFS does not allow for employment estimates specific to tourism. The CSO is also currently in the process of completing the triennial Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) submissions for Eurostat. A TSA compiles data from many different sources and allows for comparisons between the tourist industries in different countries. The reference year for the submission will be 2022. Eurostat plans to publish the data in late Q3 or early Q4 of this year. The first Tourism Satellite Account for the Irish Tourism Sector covered the year 2019 and was published in July 2023. The number of full-time equivalent employees working in tourism was estimated to be 284,800 in 2019 and these employees worked in almost 46,000 tourism-related enterprises.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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921. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the projected growth in the tourism sector for the next three years; the anticipated challenges and opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42349/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Tourism Policy Framework 2025 – 2030 was published by the previous Government last November. I have asked my officials to consider how commitments in the Programme for Government align with the Policy Framework and to prioritise the finalisation of a new Tourism Policy which reflects the Programme and other Government priorities. Work is at an advanced stage and the new Statement will include growth targets for the sector for both overseas and domestic tourists.

In relation to the challenges and opportunities, tourism remains a vital indigenous enterprise sector in Ireland, playing a key role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in rural areas. Employing nearly 230,000 people and contributing €10 billion annually to the national economy, the sector is a cornerstone of regional development. Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, places a strong emphasis on regionality and seasonality, aiming to prioritise revenue generation to ensure that economic benefits are more evenly distributed throughout the year and across the country. Its strategic objectives will continue to focus on enhancing the quality of visitor experiences, supporting the growth of the tourism industry and engaging local communities.

Tourism Ireland’s focus is on marketing the island of Ireland overseas effectively to stimulate demand to fill available capacity on the island and to strengthen strategic partnerships with partners that can deliver visitors at scale for the years to come. 2024 was a very strong year for tourism to Ireland, where overseas visitors spent over €6 billion, representing an increase of 11% compared with 2023.

In relation to growing revenue from overseas visitors, general economic uncertainty in our key overseas markets will always impact numbers planning overseas holidays. Despite this challenge, there are clear opportunities to support further growth in the tourism sector. Awareness of the island of Ireland as a holiday destination remains strong, with over 70% of the target overseas audience recognising it as a potential travel option. This high level of awareness provides a solid platform for continued marketing and engagement efforts. Air access is also improving with summer air access this year ahead of 2024 levels. This includes the introduction of key new routes from the United States, enhancing connectivity and accessibility for international visitors.

We also have major sporting events that will bring significant benefits from a tourism perspective. The recent hosting of The Open at Royal Portrush provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase our golf offering, with many visitors for the event travelling throughout the island. There is also the American College Football in August, and the first-ever NFL game will take place on Sunday, September 28, with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Minnesota Vikings in Croke Park. All these events will provide a real boost in the short term, but equally important is the exposure of Ireland provided to those planning a holiday.