Wednesday, 3 Jun 2020

Written Answers Nos. 1292-1303

Culture Ireland

Questions (1292)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1292. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding for grants Culture Ireland had available for 2020 before the Covid-19 emergency generally and for music-specific applications; if that same funding for grants will be made available during and post the Covid-19 emergency to artists, acts, touring groups and so on in the absence of international touring and performing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9451/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Culture Ireland’s budget for 2020 is €4.6m and this funding is allocated through three  grant rounds per year and for the delivery of key international showcases to secure new touring opportunities for artists. While grant funding is awarded on the basis of quality of work with reference to strategically important territories rather than on art form basis, there is a significant number of music grants given the strength of the Irish music sector and global interest in Irish music.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, I approved the launch by Culture Ireland of the Ireland Performs initiative,  a new scheme to present artists online, enabling them to reach a global audience and supporting them with payment of €1,000 per performance.   Priority was given to artists who had suffered the cancellation of live performances and touring contracts abroad.

Ireland Performs  proved to be a great success with almost 500 applications received for the 120 performance slots over a 6 week period. To date the performances have attracted an audience of just over 800,000 with a wide global reach including Asia, the US, Australia and Europe.

Artists from 28 counties participated and an enduring legacy of the programme is the technical expertise gained by the artists which will allow them to present their work on social media platforms in the future and provide access to worldwide audiences and new earning potential.

With all national and most international showcases now cancelled for the foreseeable future, Culture Ireland is working across all artforms to develop new ways of presenting Irish arts and artists to a global audience over the coming months in order to maintain existing connections and develop future opportunities for Irish artists.

Culture Ireland is working with bodies such as Literature Ireland, First Music Contact, Irish Film Institute International and our Cultural Centres in New York, London and Paris and the Network of Irish Cultural Centres across North America to ensure that Irish artists and organisations are supported to present their work globally and the existing budget is utilised to best advantage of Irish artists to reach audiences worldwide.

Question No. 1293 answered with Question No. 1265.

EU Funding

Questions (1294)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1294. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department is or will receive funding from the EU Coronavirus response investment initiative; if her Department has applied to receive additional funding from this initiative to protect the arts and entertainment sector while shut down during and beyond the phased reopening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9453/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The EU Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) is comprised of two regulations, Regulation 2020/460 (CRII), and Regulation 2020/558 (CRII Plus) which entered into force on 1 April and 23 April 2020 respectively.  The CRII regulations allow Members States to use unspent pre-allocated cohesion support, amounting to €8 billion, to respond to COVID-19 by supporting healthcare systems and the working capital of SMEs to remain in business to cushion the impact of the shock, matched by a further €29 billion in co-financing from the EU budget.

In practice, CRII allows Member States to use funding under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) strand of cohesion support, which ordinarily finances investment into the regions, to assist in the COVID-19 emergency response. There are two regional ERDF Operational Programmes in Ireland, implemented by two Managing Authorities. It is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in consultation with the Managing Authorities, to reorient funding to areas of most need currently, in line with the provisions of CRII.

The Creative Europe Programme is the main financial instrument at EU level to support the cultural and creative sector. At two recent meetings of the EU Council of Culture Ministers to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the actions to be taken to mitigate its effects, I, along with a number of my counterparts, called for an increase in funding to the next Creative Europe Programme as well as additional and immediate direct support to the sector as part of the EU Recovery Plan to help it through this crisis and to rebound in its aftermath.

While discussions on the next EU budget are ongoing, several measures have been introduced with immediate effect in the Creative Europe Programme to protect the cultural and audiovisual sector while shut down, including; a new call for projects for the cross-border mainly digital distribution of performing arts works; €5m in vouchers for hardest-hit cinemas; maximum flexibility for existing projects to reach completion; accelerated selection procedure for many schemes so that artists can start work under pre-funding arrangements; facility to invoke force majeure to recover sunk costs for stalled productions and works; and, maximum flexibility on the repayment of loans.

Finally, on Wednesday last week the European Commission published the EU Recovery Plan. The Plan includes a new initiative, REACT-EU, with a budget of €55 billion. It is proposed that the funds will support workers and SMEs and will be available across sectors, including culture. While the Plan is now subject to negotiation and approval by the Council and European Parliament, I am confident that measures in the Plan, together with those under the Creative Europe Programme, and the whole suite of measures that have been introduced by the Government are helping to protect the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors during shutdown and as we emerge from public health restrictions.

EU Funding

Questions (1295)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1295. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports which are being or will be made available through the Creative Europe programme for the island of Ireland; the funding or State mechanism that funding and support will be disseminated through; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9454/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Creative Europe is the EU’s framework programme to support the cultural and audiovisual sectors. The current programme runs from 2014 to 2020 with an overall budget of €1.46 billion (funding to MEDIA 54%; Culture 31%; Cross-sectoral 31%). Support to the culture sector includes funding for projects across all genres, such as literature, dance, theatre, music and the visual arts. It also includes support for the European Capitals of Culture programme of which Galway is a current beneficiary. The €1.5m Melina Mercouri Prize was paid to Galway 2020 in February this year under Creative Europe.

Support to the audiovisual sector includes funding for projects at all stages of the production process, including slate, development, production and post-production, sales and distribution. Notable films that recently obtained support, and in which Ireland was one of the partner countries, were Oscar winning The Favourite, and recent releases Sea Fever and Vivarium.

The Programme is run by MEDIA and Culture Desks in each participating country, the operation of which is funded under the cross-sectoral strand of the Programme.

Funding for projects under Creative Europe is made available on a competitive basis across the EU Member States as well as additional non-EU participating countries under periodic calls and all applications are assessed by the European Audiovisual and Cultural Executive Agency (EACEA), which also contracts directly with and disseminates the funding for successful projects.

The Creative Europe Desk Northern Ireland operates and reports as part of UK participation in Creative Europe therefore all figures quoted hereunder for supports under the Creative Europe Programme refer to the Republic only.

Under the current Creative Europe MEDIA Programme, Irish companies have received awards totalling €10,988,757, as follows:

- Development – Single Project Funding:  €1,980,000

- Development - Slate Funding: €4,590,873

- Development - Video Games: €924,356

- TV programming (TV Production): €1,355,495

- Audience Development: €59,971

- Training: €1,227,975

- Access to Markets: €336,750

- Film Festivals: €110,000

- Distribution: €208,818

- Promotion of European Works online: €194,520

At present, Ireland is awaiting results for up to 30 applications for a range of MEDIA Schemes including Development Single Project and Slate, TV Programming, Market Access and Festivals.

The majority of funding under the Creative Europe Culture Programme is allocated to cooperation projects among two or more countries across the schemes operated.  Under the current Programme, 66 Irish organisations have been involved in funded projects with total direct grant funding to Ireland of €4,733,008 million, as follows:

- Support for European Cooperation Projects – 58 Irish organisations involved in funded projects  across the genres of the cultural sector, partnering with organisations in 34 (from a total of 41 participating) countries: €4,075,810

- Support for European Platforms - 7 Irish organisations involved in 7 Platform projects: €320,00

- Support for Literary Translations – 3 direct grants to an Irish Publisher (2 annual and 1 multi-annual): €337,198

At present, Ireland is awaiting results on 27 applications under the Support for European Cooperation Projects Scheme 2020 where an organisation from Ireland is either a lead or partner in the application.

The Creative Europe Culture Desk is also working with 5 Irish arts organisations in making applications under the Cooperation Projects with the Western Balkans 2020, as well as on a call to promote the arts and culture sector under the EU4Dialogue Programme.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (1296)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1296. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will be requesting that all artists, performers, technical and arts workers will be given extended access to the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment and businesses in the sector to have extended access to the temporary wage subsidy scheme in view of the fact that the sector will remain in shutdown beyond the period most other sectors can return to functionality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9455/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The Government is providing a range of income supports for people who have lost employment as a result of the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the corona virus.  My colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection is responsible for the COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.  This payment by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, is available to employees and self-employed who have lost their income as a consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The conditions for receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is that a person must be of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old and have been in employment immediately before 13th March. The conditions around the payment of this payment to self-employed people is that they must have experienced a collapse of income, and be available to take up other full-time work if it was available in order to qualify. Further detail on this emergency payment and the full range of income supports available to people is available on www.gov.ie.

The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection recently announced that the matter of extending this scheme is being considered by her Department in consultation with the Department of Finance.

Two jobseekers benefit schemes are in place for the self-employed as well as the Social Welfare Scheme for Self-Employed Artists. This scheme recognises the unique creative circumstances of artists in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance and gives them special assistance in their first year out of work, allowing them to focus on their creative output.  

The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners. The scheme is predicated on the employer wanting to keep employees on the payroll and to retain them until business picks up by enabling employees, whose employers are affected by the pandemic, to receive significant supports directly from their employer through the payroll system. The scheme is expected to last 12 weeks from 26 March 2020 and will cover 70% of the net salary of workers, up to a maximum of €410 per week

My Department provides a helpdesk advice facility on income support for individuals at [e-mail] and I would encourage people in the sector to make contact for advice.

Architectural Heritage

Questions (1297)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

1297. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a list of the protected structures in Columb Barracks, Mullingar, County Westmeath will be provided; the details of suggestions to amend the records; and the date of the most recent survey carried out by the national inventory of architectural heritage. [9532/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.   

As Minister, I can make recommendations to planning authorities for buildings and structures to be included on the Record of Protected Structures. These recommendations arise from the survey of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH), which is managed by my Department.

The NIAH records for Columb Barracks are available to view on the NIAH website www.buildingsofireland.ie. A total of 13 structures were recorded by the NIAH survey in July 2004 and the Ministerial Recommendations for County Westmeath were issued to the local authority in November 2011. All the structures listed below are included in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) in the Westmeath County Development Plan 2014 – 2020.  While the final decision as to inclusion of a building or structure on the RPS is a reserved function of the relevant planning authority I am not aware of any plans to amend the records.

The structures that were recorded by the NIAH, listed by Registration Number are provided in the following table.

NIAH Registration No.	Structure
15310003	Boundary Wall
15310007	Barracks
15310008	Chapel
15310009	Chaplain's House
15310010	Entrance Gates
15310011	Guard House
15310012	Barracks
15310013	Officers' Mess
15310014	Water Towers
15310015	Prison
15310017	Barracks
15310018	Barracks
15310019	Bath House/Gymnasium

Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including particular structures on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS).  Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future. 

Arts Promotion

Questions (1298)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1298. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will organise and fund a series of small scale events in line with public health guidelines and physical distancing across heritage sites to provide work for Irish artists in order to showcase Irish art; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9596/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The Deputy will be aware that the Department recently supported the Other Voices Courage programme, which included a number of performances at national cultural institutions, as part of a range of measures to support personal and collective well being. 

More generally, the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. The Roadmap specifies that decisions in relation to which actions will be taken and which public health measures might be lifted will be made in accordance with the Framework for Future Decision-Making.

I understand that heritage site managers  such as the OPW are being guided by the Roadmap and the National Return to Work Safely Protocol in making assessments,  adopting procedures  and practices on heritage sites  to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures. The Protocol is available at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Return-to-Work-Safely-Protocol.html . 

In the context of the Deputy’s Question, additional factors have to be considered such as the profile and type of event involved, its relevance to the site, as well as its impacts on protected heritage properties.

National Monuments

Questions (1299)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1299. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider purchasing a property (details supplied) to add to the State list of great houses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9597/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.  

Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including particular structures on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS).   I understand that the building in question is included on the RPS. This places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of the protected structure and also gives the local authority powers to deal with development proposals and to seek to safeguard its future.

In the interests of the preservation, conservation, management and presentation of the built and archaeological heritage, my Department occasionally seeks to acquire certain heritage properties and monuments as resources and opportunities permit. From time to time such properties may come onto the open market, may be bequeathed to the State or may be offered to it free of cost. In addition, lands surrounding or in proximity to heritage properties or national monuments in State care (i.e. incorporating the setting of the structure) often reside in private ownership. In certain cases, improved protection of the property or monument, or access to same, would be possible if the State was to acquire such additional lands. In all cases my Department would need to examine the potential acquisition carefully, taking into account the conservation needs of the property and Value for Money principles.

My Department, in cooperation with the Office of Public Works, is, however, only in a position to acquire, maintain, conserve and present to the public a very limited number of properties and monuments. While I am supportive of efforts to identify suitable future uses to safeguard historic buildings, crucial to their future is the identification of a viable use or uses with sufficient income to ensure their survival. 

The national monuments in State care already number some one thousand sites at over 760 locations right across the country and these command considerable resource commitments in terms of both funding and personnel allocation. In addition, there are more than 45,000 protected structures spread across all 31 local authority areas in the country and in excess of 120,000 monuments listed in the Record of Monuments and Places that are not maintained by the State.

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Questions (1300)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1300. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action she has taken or will take to address the fact that Irish film production companies making live action films at studios (details supplied) that chose to terminate the employment of all film production crew in response to Covid-19 rather than retain them as employees under the temporary wage subsidy scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9598/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The temporary wage subsidy is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and is available to qualifying employers in respect of employees who were on the employer’s payroll as at 29 February 2020 and for whom a payroll submission was made to Revenue in the period from 1 February 2020 to 15 March 2020.  In addition to the temporary wage subsidy scheme, the Government is also providing vital support to our artists, arts practitioners and those working in the audiovisual sector through the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).   CSO figures indicate that a significant portion of those previously employed in film and television production, sound recording and music publishing activities are now receiving the PUP.  

While the employment arrangements of cultural and audiovisual workers can be complex, let me be clear in stating that, as is the case with employees in every industry and sector, employees in the screen industries are entitled to all existing legal protections of employment law and resources of the state including the Labour Court and Workplace Relations Commissions provide recourse where violations of employment rights occurred.   The Film Regulations 2019 require that applicants for the Section 481 tax relief sign an undertaking that they will provide quality employment, and training and skills development opportunities and that they will comply with all applicable laws, including but not limited to obligations in the field of employment law. This is a key requirement in the application process.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1301)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1301. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will set out, including implementation dates, the procedural, licensing, publicity and customer service arrangements her Department has made towards continuing to meet these important responsibilities since the commencement of Covid-19 restrictions on 12 March 2020 with regard to the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended and Article 9 of the birds directive, and her responsibilities under this legislation to derogate in the interests public health and safety and for the protection of air safety, crops, flora and fauna and others. [9620/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department continues to operate and provide the services under my responsibility in line with Government Guidance on public health relating to Covid-19. National Parks and Wildlife Service staff were designated essential workers from the outset of the Covid 19 related restriction and continued to perform their full range of functions.

All essential operational work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in relation to the protection of flora and fauna is continuing. This includes managing our national parks and nature reserves for nature conservation and also keeping them open for local access.  The NPWS continues to provide wildlife and CITES licensing and other services to customers across the country and also continues to provide conservation advice on flora and fauna in the context of my role as a statutory consultee in relation to planning and development and on referrals from other consent authorities.  NPWS continues to make 2020 annual payments under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme. In addition, as the competent authority in the State for a number of important international conventions and agreements for nature, NPWS continues to service these and maintain Ireland’s participation in efforts to halt biodiversity loss globally.   NPWS is actively involved in combatting Wildlife Crime and is providing assistance and advice in relation to the management of wildfires around the country

I have recently signed the Wild Bird Declarations for the period up to 30 April 2021 which allows the killing and capturing of certain wild bird species where they are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or safety or air safety.  These Declarations are published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service at https://www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law/eu-birds-directive-derogations.

Wildlife Regulations

Questions (1302)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1302. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will review negative impacts of urban-living seagull colonies on communities and make recommendations with regard to the 2020.21 State-wide Declaration under Article 9.1.a of the Birds Directive and the consultative committee she approved in October 2018 and that commenced its work in June 2019 (details supplied). [9621/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I recently signed the State Wide Declaration for the period up to 30 April 2021 which allows the killing and capturing of certain wild bird species where they are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or safety.   The Declaration is published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at https://www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law/eu-birds-directive-derogations.

The Declaration includes methods to control seagull species in a specific area in North Dublin for public safety reasons. The control method involves the removal of eggs and nests only and the culling of seagulls was not permitted.     Similar provisions were included in previous Declarations effective from 1 May 2017.   

The current Declaration was subject to a consultation process with stakeholders and my Department received a number of submissions from hunting and conservation bodies, a local community organisation as well as officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department.

I have already taken other measures in order to address the impact of seagull species in urban areas.   ANIAR Ecology were appointed by my Department to undertake a comprehensive review of the derogation process under Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive and published their report in October 2018.  In line with the recommendations in the consultant’s report I agreed to the formation of a Consultative Committee to undertake a review of the issues surrounding the impact of gulls in urban areas, with an independent chair, whose membership includes representatives of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department, Fingal County Council, a local Community Committee and BirdWatch Ireland.    The Committee was formed in June 2019 and has met on four occasions and has recently published its first interim report.

Departmental Advertising

Questions (1303)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1303. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount that has been spent on advertising in 2020 by her Department and its agencies on social media platforms (details supplied) in tabular form; and the name of each campaign advertised. [9834/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department and those bodies under is aegis have engaged in expenditure of the type described by the Deputy of approximately €41,000 to date in 2020. 

Of this total some €950 related to expenditure by the Department on raising awareness of aspects of the  Creative Ireland programme including the recent RTÉ  documentary on the Creative Schools initiative and the extended deadline for schools applying for the Creative Schools initiative in 2020/2021.

The use of social media has played an important part in the Department’s contribution to national well-being during the current crisis, particularly in highlighting a wide range of online resources, performances and activities.

Details of expenditure undertaken by bodies under the aegis of the Department are set out in the following table.

Name of Body	Name of Campaign	Social Media Platform	Spend 2020
National Library	Newsletter	Facebook	€25
Screen Ireland	Promotions for Film releases	Facebook, Instagram	€1,660
Údaras na Gaeltachta	Promotion	Facebook	€231
Chester Beatty Library	Promotions, Digital Guides, Chinese New Year Festival	Facebook	€166
Foras na Gaelige	Public Consultation, Publication Promotions	Facebook, Twitter, Instagram	€7,738
IMMA	Promotion Work	Twitter	€260
NCH	Promotions, Brand Awareness	Facebook, Instagram	€14,302
NGI	Exhibitions, Promotions	Facebook, Instagram	€3,798
NMI	Event/Programme Promotion	Facebook	€11,700
Ulster Scots Agency	General Promotion	Facebook	€79
Waterways Ireland	Promotion, Public Consultation	Facebook	€477
Total			€40,436