GAA fans are being fleeced €167 for a hostel bunkbed in Dublin, the Dáil has heard.
Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty clashed with the Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in Leinster House when he brought up the rip-off prices being charged for hotel beds in the capital.
Mr Doherty said that things have gotten so bad now that even hostels are getting involved in price gouging with huge prices being charged for bunk beds.
The opposition spokesman said that GAA fans coming to Dublin to see their counties play in the All Ireland series in the coming weeks are getting screwed €167 for a hostel bunk bed.
Meanwhile, tourism industry reps, including the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), were getting a grilling downstairs in Leinster House in the committee rooms.
TDs and Senators slammed the hoteliers and accused them of “price gouging” and “extortionate room charging” which amounted to “economic treason.”
Mr Doherty told the Dáil during Questions to the Taoiseach: "Next Saturday, supporters will be travelling to Dublin from Derry, Clare and Cork to watch their county teams play in the all-Ireland quarter finals.
“They will be faced with rip-off prices in the city next weekend.
“Hotels are charging more than €400 per night and hostels are charging eye-watering rates for bunk beds.
“One hostel is charging €167 for the pleasure of sleeping in a bunkbed with nine other strangers in a dormitory.
“That is absolutely crazy.
“It is what is happening in this city in 2022.
“Last month, the Minister extended the reduced VAT rate to the hospitality sector until next March.
“We know this comes at a price tag for this year and next of €500 million.
“Two weeks ago, I stood here and asked the Minister, who introduced this tax rate, to engage with the industry to ensure it is passing on that saving to customers.
“Has he done that?
“More importantly, what is the Government going to do to tackle the rip-off prices people are being charged?”
Finance minister Paschal Donohoe was filling in for the Taoiseach who was at a Civil War commemoration in UCC.
Mr Donohoe said that the hotels and hostels would be the big losers in the long run if they aren’t offering value for money.
He also hinted that the Government could remove supports, like rates exemptions and the special VAT deductions if the hoteliers don’t play ball.
He said: “Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media,
Catherin Martin, who is directly responsible for dealing with our tourism sector and its future development, and her officials have been 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.”
IHF chief executive Tim Fenn defended his industry at the Oireachtas tourism committee.
He said that the problem is one of “capacity and supply” and that there is a “misperception” among the public that Irish hotels are over-charging.
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
