Tourism impact of Ukraine housing
Deputy MacSharry said accommodation for people fleeing war had harmed tourism-dependent communities and asked about compensation. The Tánaiste said the Government faced a real accommodation crisis and was working on alternative housing, but he did not favour compensation.
Ireland's increased reliance on tourist accommodation to cater for those fleeing war-torn Ukraine and elsewhere has had a disproportionate impact on areas largely dependent on the tourist economy. Bundoran, Strandhill, Rosses Point and Drumshanbo are a few such in my constituency but, obviously, there are locations nationwide. Given the interdependency of other local business and seasonal employment in these areas on the tourist economy, what is the Government prepared to do to compensate and support business in the wider tourism ecosystem and those dependent on seasonal employment in these businesses who will clearly be at a very substantial loss due to the reduced level of tourist accommodation?
Comment on this
The point is well made in respect of the impact of migration on tourism. It is a real challenge in terms of accommodation. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, is working with the industry and met a confederation recently in respect of endeavouring to find solutions and create options. We have a real challenge in the country. We are in a war-time situation and that has impacts. Alternative accommodation is being developed in terms of reconfiguration of other buildings, as well as rapid-build housing being on the way, but there will remain challenges. There is no magic solution to this, unfortunately.