Donegal TD Pearse Doherty highlighted another incident of “rip-off” pricing for Dublin accommodation in the Dáil today.
The Sinn Féin TD told the Dáil about the “eye-watering rates” for beds during the GAA all-Ireland quarter finals next Saturday.
Hotels are charging more than €400 per night, Doherty said. “One hostel is charging €167 for the pleasure of sleeping in a bunk bed with nine other strangers in a dormitory. That is absolutely crazy. It is what is happening in this city in 2022.”
Deputy Doherty shared these examples to ask Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe if the hospitality sector’s 9% VAT rate savings were being passed on to consumers.
“Has he done that? More importantly, what is the Government going to do to tackle the rip-off prices people are being charged?” Deputy Doherty asked the Minister.
In response, Minister Donohoe said the Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin is engaging with representatives of the hospitality sector to make clear to them the price they will pay in future for putting in place prices that do not deliver good value and that discourage domestic and international tourism here.
“The greatest losers from unaffordable pricing in this regard, if it takes hold in Irish tourism will be those involved in Irish tourism,” he said.
