TR AN S FO R M I N G CO R K
A Clear Plan is Required for Our Most Vulnerable Sectors Paula Cogan, President of Cork Chamber The past 12 months have been the most tumultuous period for tourism, hospitality, leisure, aviation, retail and culture in recent memory and while many have weathered the challenge to date, clarity of direction is required to ensure a promising future. The activity of our most vibrant, colourful and uplifting sectors is still deeply suppressed. It is now time for Government to orient actions towards the long-term nature of this pandemic with an appropriate framework of structured interventions focused on the sectors which are most acutely affected by the impact of Covid-19. Tourism, hospitality, leisure, aviation, retail, and culture are among those most deeply affected, being the first to be impacted by the pandemic and most likely to be the slowest to recover. Current supports provide some relief to those who are affected, but the increased speed of vaccination rollout, economic reopening and longer-term operational and capital supports are now essential if a pathway to economic normality is to be found. As it stands, the continuation of restrictions will undoubtedly cause deeper financial harm to individual businesses, to individual mental health and wellbeing and to communities across the country. Nonetheless, the overwhelming majority set aside their personal and circumstantial perceptions and agreed to collaborate and support our approach for the greater good. Indeed, the continued support of the general population in adhering to the guidelines is the only way to ensure that everyone will be able to benefit from reduced restrictions sooner, rather than later. Business supports have been a lifeline for many. The various supports developed and rolled out over the past 12 months have kept countless businesses afloat and are as critical today as ever. Thankfully, the €60m Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid has finally been rolled out and is open for application, addressing some of the qualification shortcomings of the Covid
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Restrictions Support Scheme. However, the supports require constant interrogation and evolution to ensure they are relevant and fit for purpose. Ultimately, extension of existing supports, with enhanced support for businesses operating in the worst affected sectors is required and must be confirmed. For tourism, hospitality, leisure, aviation and retail a clear pathway to recovery is required and it is time for the Oireachtas Committees to engage with business, dust off their sectoral COVID plans of last summer and revise them to be fit for purpose for the coming 12 months. Cork Airport recorded an 80% decrease in passenger numbers in 2020 and significant capital investment is required to ensure that infrastructure, including the runway is poised for the return of significant volume. Full recovery will take up to five years in the sector and Cork Airport must be supported by multi-year operational and capital supports under the Regional Airports Capex Programme. It must be noted, however, that Ireland has not sought to subsidise specific airlines unlike other international jurisdictions and considerable marketing budget will be required to ensure airlines not only prioritise Ireland in their renewed route scheduling but prioritise airports other than Dublin. The tourism sector was worth an estimated €9.3 billion to the Irish economy in 2019 with 9.7 million overseas tourists spent almost €5.2 billion throughout the country. In 2019, the tourism
