Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
221. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she continues to ensure the continued growth and viability of all portfolios under her aegis with obvious benefit for tourism, culture, arts, sport and media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46011/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought is set out below in respect of each sectoral area of my Department.
Culture
Arts, Film & Investment
My Department’s Arts and Culture programme aims to promote and develop Ireland’s world class artistic and creative strengths at home and abroad, maximising their societal and economic value for the country, and supporting the Arts and entertainment sectors to develop and grow.
I am satisfied that the overall increased gross funding allocated to Arts and Culture in Budget 2024 will support both new and existing funding streams and initiatives. There has been sustained investment in Arts and Culture in recent years and I was very pleased that I secured this level funding for this important sector in 2024.
National Cultural Institutions (NCIs)
I am committed to enhancing access to and engagement with culture and creativity for the benefit of society through various channels, including through our National Cultural Institutions (NCIs). My Department supports the NCIs through annual funding in support of their operations and programming, and by ensuring that their work is supported by a robust legislative and corporate governance underpinning.
My Department is working with the NCIs and the OPW to deliver an ambitious capital investment programme that will redevelop and futureproof our institutions for generations to come. My Department also provides guidance and support to the sector through the provision of an overarching cultural policy framework.
Culture Ireland
The €1m increase in funding for Culture Ireland in Budget 2024, to €7.6m, will ensure that Culture Ireland can continue to promote Irish arts worldwide and to create opportunities and support the international careers of Irish artists. Culture Ireland operates a regular grant scheme to support Irish artists, generating jobs and creating new audiences for Irish arts, enhancing Ireland's reputation. Culture Ireland will continue to expand its schedule of international showcase activity in 2024, reaching 30 separate events in 2024.
Additionally, Culture Ireland will present a yearlong season of Irish arts in Germany throughout 2024 which will be presented in association with the Embassy of Ireland in Germany.
Night-Time Economy
The recommendations of the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce, which was published in September 2021, aim to support the overall economic growth of our cities and towns by providing employment opportunities, boosting tourism, and encouraging cultural development. We will continue to provide funding in 2024 to develop new opportunities within the Night-Time Economy in support of the Report’s recommendations.
Basic Income for the Arts
The Basic Income for the Arts scheme is a three-year pilot that was the number one recommendation of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce, which I established in 2020 to examine ways in which to help the arts recover post pandemic. I am very pleased to have been able to deliver on this recommendation.
The scheme has been firmly established as a research project so that an evidence base can be developed around the impact of the payment which will inform future Government policy in relation to how Ireland supports her artists.
2,000 recipients were selected in 2022 to receive payment of €325 per week. The pilot scheme is funded €35m per year and will continue in 2024.
Creative Ireland
I am pleased that funding of €10.5 million provided to the Creative Ireland Programme in 2023 will be maintained in 2024 with an ambition to inspire and transform people, places and communities through creativity. Under the Shared Island Initiative, a further €525,000 will be allocated to the Creative Ireland Programme, bringing the total allocation to €2.9 million in 2024. Furthermore, I will provide an additional €250,000 to support the expanded Creative Climate Action Fund that I announced in July 2023.
Gaeltacht
Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021
An additional €0.5m was allocated in Budget 2024 to ensure the full and successful implementation of the Official Languages Acts 2003 to 2021.
The statutory Irish Language Services Advisory Committee was established under the Act in June 2022. The Committee’s work will primarily be focused on the development of the first National Plan for Irish-medium Public Services for the first two years. With this Plan, particular regard will be paid to achieving the ambitious recruitment target of 20% of recruits to the public service being competent in Irish by the end of 2030. A specific commitment is contained in the Civil Service Renewal 2030 strategy to implement this Plan.
Through the funding secured by my Department for next year, new initiatives will be funded, and existing measures expanded. These include the establishment of an Irish language Network, the development of a suite of supports for public bodies in relation to the implementation of the Act and the raising of awareness around the Act in general.
Irish Language Support Schemes (Capital)
An additional €0.5m was allocated in Budget 2024 for the Capital Programme of the Irish Language Support Schemes.
Community-based committees/organisations that operate through Irish outside the Gaeltacht may make an application under the Department’s Irish Language Support Schemes. The purpose of the capital assistance that is provided under this fund is the strengthening Irish as a community and family language in accordance with the objectives of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 and the 20 Year Strategy for Irish 2010-2030. This additional funding brings the total allocation for 2024 to €4m.
Broadcasting and Media
A key recommendation from the Future of Media Commission’s report is a new regulator to underpin an enhanced regulatory and developmental framework, which is key to supporting the future development of the media sector. This new regulator – Coimisiún na Meán – was established earlier this year under the provisions of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, 2022. I secured funding of €7.5m to support this work in 2023.
As the Deputy will be aware, the main source of direct support to the media sector is provided through the Broadcasting Fund, in particular the Sound and Vision Scheme, which is administered by An Coimisiún. Since taking office, I have secured significant additional resources for the Scheme amounting to €22.5 million. This has enabled increased investment in the sector and allowed targeted funding rounds for Climate Action and Climate Change, the live music sector, and Irish language content. The recommendations in the Future of Media Commission Report included the conversion of the Broadcasting Fund into a Media Fund to provide funding to the wider media sector. In Budget 2024, €6m was secured to support the Media Fund, which provides funding on a platform-neutral basis to the wider media sector, on an administrative basis. The priority of the Fund is the establishment of a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and a Courts Reporting Scheme, both of which will benefit the local and regional media outlets in particular.
In addition to increased levels of funding for Sound and Vision, the Government provided interim funding as recommended by the Commission to RTÉ, and I have also provided significant increased funding to TG4, securing an increase of €4.8m for 2024 which brings to €19.8 million the total additional funding provided to TG4 since I became Minister.
Sport
In relation to sport, the further growth and viability of this important sector is being driven and guided by the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 (NSP). Implementation of the NSP continues to proceed satisfactorily and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, half way through the 10-year lifespan of the policy, some 80% of its 57 actions have either been completed already or are well on the way to completion.
I was pleased to announce an increased budget allocation of €183.3 million for sport in Budget 2024. This will allow Sport Ireland to continue to support the sport sector, which is still recovering from the challenges of Covid-19 and continues to face challenges around rising energy costs and costs of living, similar to all other sectors.
Sports Capital
My Department provides capital support through the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
The SCEP is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. The 2023 round of the Programme closed on 8 September and it is expected that allocations to successful applicants will be announced next year. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications is underway but it is clear that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications and it is likely that the total number will exceed the previous record of applications submitted under the 2020 round.
The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. With regard to a possible new round of the LSSIF, I am determined to see continued investment in sports facilities in order to ensure we achieve our ambitious targets for sports participation. I will continue to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, in relation to the additional funding required. Once these discussions are concluded, I will provide an update in respect of any new round of the LSSIF.
Major Sports Events
My Department continues to support the hosting of Major Sports Events in Ireland and to explore further hosting opportunities. This is evidenced by the Government’s support for events such as the US College Football classics every August from 2022 – 2026, the Ryder Cup in 2027 in Limerick and the EURO 2028 football championships, which UEFA announced last week will be held in Ireland and the UK. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a high level policy paper has been drafted and is currently being finalised. The policy will help to inform which events we will target in the future.
Tourism
Fáilte Ireland’s tourism barometer strategic research and insight findings from September this year indicate a better year in terms of visitor levels when compared to 2022. Looking ahead, Tourism Ireland will roll out an extensive, highly targeted programme of promotions around the world over the coming months. It will highlight the many reasons to visit the island of Ireland during autumn and winter.
A key high level objective of my Department is investment in tourism marketing. Sustaining investment in marketing campaigns aims to ensure that Ireland’s offering as a tourism destination remains strongly visible in an increasingly competitive marketplace. My Department continues to support Fáilte Ireland in its work on tourism product development by the sustained provision of exchequer funding. This supports a wide variety of development across the regions.
I am also progressing the development of a new national tourism policy that will seek to mainstream sustainability – environmental, economic and societal – across the entire sector. I hope to have this policy finalised by the end of 2023. The new tourism policy will seek to establish Ireland as a leading tourism destination, excelling in sustainable development practices that deliver better economic, social and environmental outcomes for all.
