Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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602. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider a restart type grant to wet pubs similar to the grant scheme to help restaurant and dry pubs repurpose and provide outdoor seating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20305/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On 31 March I announced details of a €17million Scheme for developing outdoor dining capacity nationwide. The Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme comprises two parts and will be delivered in partnership between Fáilte Ireland and Local Authorities across the country. Part One of the Scheme will provide funding for individual tourism and hospitality businesses to develop and increase their own outdoor seating capacity. Funding allocated under Part Two will enable Local Authorities to develop permanent outdoor public dining spaces in towns and urban centres.

In regard to further supports, as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, Government will be considering how it can help people return to work, support sectors which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Crucially as part of that plan, the Government will consider more targeted measures to help reboot those sectors, such as tourism, which will face particular challenges during the recovery phase when the economy reopens.