Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
429. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports his Department is currently providing or willing to provide in the future to support small family-run self-catering businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14842/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTourism is a sector where small businesses play a central role. With over 46,000 tourism-related enterprises, the sector supports and sustains local economies in every region. In early December, I launched Ireland’s new National Tourism Policy Statement, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which sets a clear strategic direction for the sector to 2030.
This Policy Statement focuses on building competitiveness through sustainability and digital transformation, while providing strong support for SMEs and reinforcing tourism’s role in driving balanced regional development. Delivering on these ambitions requires action at regional level. That is why balanced regional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation are key policy priorities for this Government.
My Department and its agencies contribute to this through nine Regional Enterprise Plans, which identify growth opportunities and strengthen regional enterprise ecosystems. The current plans run to the end of this year, and the Programme for Government commits to developing and resourcing new plans following full consultation in each region.
In 2026, the Department’s priorities for the SME sector will be focused on implementing key actions under the Government’s Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, particularly those aimed at creating and scaling more SMEs and reducing the regulatory and administrative burdens on small businesses. This will include progressing measures to strengthen the start-up and scaling ecosystem, improving access to scaling finance for indigenous firms, and continuing to simplify how SMEs engage with Government through more streamlined supports and processes. These actions are intended to support productivity growth, enhance competitiveness, and strengthen the resilience of Irish SMEs in the context of ongoing cost pressures and international uncertainty.
This Government recognises the central importance of tourism to Ireland’s economy and to the vitality of communities across the country. A strong, sustainable and regionally balanced accommodation base is fundamental to that success. Accommodation not only underpins the visitor experience and perceptions of value for money, but also strengthens the competitiveness of the wider tourism ecosystem and enables businesses of all sizes to grow and thrive.
Fáilte Ireland maintains accommodation registers under the Tourist Traffic Acts and through the National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF). Currently, 225,577 tourism bedplaces are recorded across these registers, reflecting the scale of the industry and providing a solid platform for strategic development. The self-catering sector are encouraged to and participate in the NQAF.
This Summer, a statutory register for all Short-Term Letting (STL) accommodation will be introduced. This measure will significantly enhance transparency and visibility across the full accommodation spectrum, ensuring a more complete and robust overview of tourism accommodation in Ireland to inform tourism policy and investment decisions.
In parallel, Fáilte Ireland has developed a Tourism Accommodation Capacity and Pipeline Monitor. This strategic tool tracks existing capacity and monitors developments as they progress through planning, construction and opening phases. It enables early identification of supply constraints, provides insights into regional and sectoral trends, and supports evidence based decision making by policymakers and industry stakeholders.
The forthcoming Tourism Accommodation Strategy, a key commitment under A New Era for Irish Tourism, will establish a clear framework to strengthen, diversify and expand Ireland’s accommodation offering. Particular emphasis will be placed on unlocking development in areas with significant untapped tourism potential, supporting balanced regional growth and delivering sustainable, year-round economic benefits nationwide.
This will ensure that Ireland’s tourism infrastructure evolves in line with changing consumer preferences and global travel trends, safeguarding the resilience and competitiveness of the sector into the future.
The National Enterprise Hub is the official, government-funded national business support service for companies across all sectors. Its trained advisors provide guidance and connect businesses with relevant funding opportunities and grants available through various Government departments and agencies for which they may be eligible.
As the National Tourism Development Agency, Fáilte Ireland, offers an extensive range of capability building supports for SME's businesses, designed to support businesses manage costs and enhance their competitiveness. These supports are accessible from the LearniFI platform (both LearniFI live and LearniFI on demand). Fáilte Ireland also have a range of 'on demand' webinar recordings on areas such as 'managing insurance costs' which are accessible on their LearniFI platform, once you register for LearniFI.
In addition, all supports provided by Fáilte Ireland are available through its Business Support Hub.
A range of resources is available specifically for self-catering businesses, including:
• Self-Catering Business Supports
• Access Welcome Guide Checklist
• Business Planning for B&Bs, Hostels, Self-Catering, Caravan and Camping
• Financial Planning for B&Bs, Hostels, Self-Catering, Caravan and Camping
