Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to explore ways and means of assisting the arts, notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, with particular reference to the need to regenerate employment in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28051/20]
View answer136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to have dialogue with stakeholders in the arts with a view to achieving a means of addressing the crisis arising from the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28052/20]
View answer137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to promote the arts and culture sectors as a means of recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28053/20]
View answer138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she expects cultural activities to assist in Ireland's recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28054/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 138, inclusive, together.
The arts and culture sectors have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; cultural venues and events were among the first to be closed in the country’s public health response to the crisis, and they will be among the last to recover.
The Deputy will also be aware that I have recently appointed the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce which is beìng chaired by Clare Duignan. The membership of the taskforce includes representation from the Events Industry Alliance. Taking as its starting point, the research and evidence of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the sector compiled by the Department, the Arts Council and other stakeholders, the Taskforce will prepare a report to me setting out recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector includes culture, the arts, the audiovisual industry and the live entertainment industry.
The Taskforce has already met twice. Its proceedings will be conducted in a transparent manner and all correspondence will be published in due course.
Earlier this month, I launched a number of new music and performance support schemes to aid employment in the creative industries. An allocation of €5 million is being made available under the “Live Performance Support Scheme” which aims to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters of live performances and provide employment to workers in the creative industries.
A further support package, the Music Stimulus Package, involves three funding schemes designed to help sustain the popular and commercial music sector across all music genres, including rock, pop, hip hop, indie, jazz, country and western and traditional and folk. Under this package, a fund of €1,000,000 is being put in place to stimulate areas of work which artists would usually fund with income from own sources including live event fees. These schemes are targeted at professional musicians and their teams and will support song writing camps, recording and album releases. The aim is to ensure that Irish musicians, engineers, PR, media, agents, labels and publishers can continue to develop and share their work in the context of COVID restrictions. The Music Stimulus Package schemes will be managed on behalf of the Department by First Music Contact and will be subject to peer panel assessment.
With the upcoming Budget and the development of the National Economic Plan, the Government will review and refine existing supports, and consider any further necessary measures required as a consequence of COVID-19.
