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Ministerial Correspondence

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020

Tuesday, 9 June 2020

Questions (727, 731, 733)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

727. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is in receipt of correspondence from a group (details supplied); and her views on the measures outlined in the plan. [9920/20]

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Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

731. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will address a matter regarding funding for the arts sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10015/20]

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Seán Haughey

Question:

733. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she is taking to bring about a recovery in the arts sector following the Covid-19 pandemic; if her attention has been drawn to the campaign by an organisation (details supplied) to address the issue; her views on the actions proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10059/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 727, 731 and 733 together.

I am aware of the correspondence to which the Deputy refers and proposals set out therein. The COVID-19 crisis gives rise to many challenges for the nation as a whole and is having an unprecedented impact on the arts, culture, heritage and Gaeltacht sectors.

From an early stage in the COVID-19 crisis, measures were put in place to sustain our cultural infrastructure, support artists and arts practitioners and ensure the ongoing provision of cultural services. Following a meeting I convened on 12 March with the Arts Council, the national cultural institutions and Screen Ireland, the Arts Council announced a series of immediate measures, including an undertaking to honour all funding commitments made to organisations and allow grantees to draw down up to 90% of their funding commitment.

The Government introduced a range of supports for those affected by COVID-19 and those working in the arts, culture and audiovisual sectors are eligible to apply for these supports. My Department has published an advisory booklet on its website which sets out support and information available to the arts sector in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Officials from my Department are in ongoing contact with the Arts Council and as well as with a broad range of sectoral stakeholders including resource organisations, advocacy groups as well as individual artists and arts practices.

The Council had undertaken a detailed survey of arts organisations to identify the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on audiences, employment and finances for March, April and May as well as a survey of artists seeking information of the economic impact on individual artists and the results are published on their website.

The Arts Council has established a short-term Advisory Group to identify ways to address impacts of the Covid-19 Crisis on the sector. This group brings together a number of leading voices from the arts and other sectors and will report to the Arts Council on measures to sustain the arts sector through the current challenging period. I understand that the Group will complete their work shortly and I look forward to receiving their report.

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