Written Answers Nos. 302-318
302. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of contracts of €25,000 or more than have been awarded by her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department that were found to be non-compliant with procurement guidelines from 1 January 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37807/20]
View answerMy Department strives to ensure that there is an appropriate focus on best procurement practice and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant guidelines to the greatest extent possible.
Where exceptions do arise, as provided for under the provisions of Department of Finance Circular 40/02, the Department provides the details of such instances to the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The details of any instances that arose in 2019 are included in the Statement on Internal Financial Control which forms part of the Annual Appropriation Accounts published by the Comptroller and Auditor General at https://www.audit.gov.ie/en/Find-Report/Publications/2020/vote-33.pdf.
Details pertaining to any instances which may arise for 2020 will be contained in my Department’s 2020 Annual Appropriation Account which will fall to be published by the Comptroller and Auditor General in due course.
Procurement within the bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for which the bodies themselves are responsible.
303. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will reopen the Fáilte Ireland adaption grant until the end of 2020 to facilitate applications that missed the closing date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37816/20]
View answerThe administration of the COVID-19 Adaptation Fund is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for further information and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
304. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the breakdown of funding provided through the sports club resilience fund; and the amount of funding that went unallocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37881/20]
View answerThe allocations made by Sport Ireland under the Covid-19 grant funding schemes, including allocations made under the Club Resilience Fund, were announced on 2 November. A breakdown of the amounts allocated under each of the schemes is available on the Sport Ireland website at the following link: https://www.sportireland.ie/news/eu85-million-provides-timely-boost-to-irish-sport-sector.
I am informed by Sport Ireland that an amount of up to €15 million was available under the Club Resilience Fund. Sport Ireland was in a position to meet the requests submitted by National Governing Bodies for their club networks, which amounted to €9.7 million. This allowed an additional €5 million to be invested in the GAA, IRFU and FAI club networks.
Out of the overall Covid-19 funding package of €70m that was available to protect the national sports system in Ireland, over €64 million of funding has been allocated to National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnerships and other funded bodies across four key schemes. Recognising the continually changing landscape, an Emergency Fund to the value of €5.8 million has been ring-fenced to offset losses incurred by sports organisations during the current Level 5 restrictions and the remaining period of 2020.
305. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of all applications made by her Department to the Oireachtas Business Committee to waive pre-legislative scrutiny of primary and secondary legislation sponsored or initiated by her Department from 1 January 2017 to date; the outcomes of such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37904/20]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not made applications to the Oireachtas Business Committee to waive pre-legislative scrutiny of primary and secondary legislation during the period 1 January 2017 to date.
For the sake of completeness I would advise, however, that in 2018 my Department wrote to the Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to inquire if it wished to examine the general scheme of the proposed Irish Film Board Amendment Bill 2018. In response, the Joint Committee indicated that it had decided that it would not carry out a pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill but would consider the Bill at Committee Stage. In this case, there was no involvement of the Oireachtas Business Committee and no application for waiver was made by my Department.
306. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the grade at which the chief data protection officer in her Department is employed. [37917/20]
View answerI am informed that my Department's Data Protection Officer is at Assistant Principal Officer grade, and reports to the Head of Corporate Governance at Principal Officer level. There is no officer in my Department with the job title of Chief Data Protection Officer.
307. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén amlíne atá leagtha amach le go mbunófar an coiste comhairleach ar thoghcháin Údarás na Gaeltachta agus cén amlíne a bheidh ag an gcoiste sin lena chuid oibre a dhéanamh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [37973/20]
View answerLuaitear sa Chlár Rialtais go ndéanfar athbhreithniú ar struchtúir fheidhmiúcháin agus rialachais Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin/toghacháin i ndáil le Bord an Údaráis.
Faoin socrú reatha agus faoi réir na bhforálacha ábhartha Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, ainmníonn na hÚdaráis Áitiúla a bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta faoina gcúram acu cúigear comhalta faoi seach chuig an mbord. Faoi réir an Achta, agus i gcomhréir le cleachtais choitianta i ndáil le boird stáit, roghnaítear an seachtar comhalta eile tríd comórtas poiblí a eagraítear faoi scáth na Seirbhíse um Cheapacháin Phoiblí.
De thoradh seo trí chéile féachtar chuige go mbíonn bunús daonlathach le comhdhéanamh an bhoird agus déantar cinnte de go bhfuil daoine leis an saineolas agus na sainscileanna cuí á roghnú don chúram – rud atá ar leas an Údaráis agus an pobal a ndéanann sé freastal air mar fhoras stáit i ndeireadh thiar thall. Tiocfaidh saolré an bhoird reatha chun deiridh i mí Eanáir 2023.
Tá sé mar sprioc agam go gcuirfear tús le athbhreithniú faoi réir an ghealltanais sa Chlár Rialtais chomh luath agus is féidir.
308. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of tribunals, enquiries or investigations being undertaken currently by her Department; the number that are in the process of being set up; the number in which the terms of reference are not complete or not agreed; the cost of all to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38050/20]
View answerI am advised that there are no tribunals, public investigations and commissions of investigations currently underway in respect of my Department.
309. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will review correspondence (details supplied); if she will address the points made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38085/20]
View answer310. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she review correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38086/20]
View answer313. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will address a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38246/20]
View answer315. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the continuation of dance lessons including Irish dancing lessons within levels 2, 3 and 4 of Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19; her engagements with representative organisations to date with regard to the continuation of such lessons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38441/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 309, 310, 313 and 315 together.
The guidance set out in the Government Plan for Living with COVID-19 specifies that no exercise or dance classes are allowed indoors at Levels 3, 4 or 5. The guidance precludes any indoor gathering takings place at Levels 3, 4, and 5 and to date no exemptions have been made for stage schools, drama classes, exercise classes, gymnastics classes, artistic activities, athletic activities or any type of dance class whether jazz, or ballet or step-dancing.
Given the current epidemiological situation, it has been necessary to put in place very significant restrictions to arrest the current trajectory of COVID-19 and break transmission chains. This means asking people to stay at home and eliminating as much activity and contacts as is possible to ensure that opportunities for the virus to transmit are minimised, while allowing essential activities to continue. It also means minimising discretionary activities including cultural activities. Information on the public health measures currently in place in relation to the different Levels can be found at the gov.ie website.
The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.8) Regulations 2020 give effect to level 5 restrictions under the Plan. The Regulations list essential retail and essential services which may operate under level 5 restrictions. This list does not include private or commercial dance classes. Under the Regulations, essential education encompasses primary and post-primary schools, and higher and further education where remote learning is not possible. Where a service provider considers that they fall into the essential education category e.g. as part of the national curriculum or as part of a specific, state-sponsored course of study, they should refer to the Department of Education’s guidance in relation to the operation of education services under Level 5 restrictions.
Similarly, The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.7) Regulations, which applied when the country was under Level 3 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, did not allow any exercise or dance classes, regardless of the form e.g. Irish, ballet, jazz etc.
I fully understand the benefits that activities such as dance bring to people's overall health and well-being. The measures in place to suppress the disease transmission are intended to minimise the risks to public health while striking a balance in prioritising and protecting some activities over others.
311. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil athbhreithniú á dhéanamh ar cheanneagraíochtaí Fhoras na Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [38187/20]
View answerCheadaigh an Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas socruithe nua maoinithe in ionad múnla bunmhaoinithe Fhoras na Gaeilge ar an 10 Iúil 2013. Mar thoradh ar an gcur chuige nua straitéiseach seo, is féidir seirbhísí níos fearr a sheachadadh ar bhealach níos éifeachtaí do phobal na Gaeilge sa dá dhlínse, ó thuaidh agus ó dheas.
Faoi na socruithe seo, tá tosaíochtaí straitéiseacha i réimsí ar leith á seachadadh ar bhonn uile-oileáin ag 6 ceanneagraíocht a roghnaigh Foras na Gaeilge chun na críche sin. Is iad na heagraíochtaí a roghnaíodh ná Gaeloideachas, Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn, Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Glór na nGael agus Cumann na bhFiann. Tháinig na socruithe nua i bhfeidhm ar 1 Iúil 2014.
Tá fóram comhpháirtíochta uile-oileáin bunaithe ag Foras na Gaeilge chun cur chuige comhpháirtíochta ag an 6 ceanneagraíocht a chinntiú.
I láthair na huaire, tá luacháil á dhéanamh ag comhairleoir neamhspleách atá coimisiúnaithe ag an bhForas maidir le feidhmiú an chur chuige comhpháirtíochta. Le linn an phróisis seo, déanfar athbhreithniú ar phleananna, spriocanna, feidhmeanna agus torthaí na gceanneagraíochtaí sna mór-réimsí oibre atá tugtha dóibh. Mar thoradh air sin, féachfar an bhfuil ag éirí leis an gcur chuige.
Táthar ag súil go gcuirfear ballchríoch leis an athbhreithniú seo sa bhliain nua.
312. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if swimming lessons will be allowed to continue in level 3 if comprehensive protective measures are in place (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38227/20]
View answerThe Government's Resilience and Recovery Plan 2020-2021 provides for indoor individual training only at Level 3. It also states explicitly that there should be no exercise or dance classes at this level. My Department has issued guidance to the sports and leisure sector confirming that group swimming lessons are not permitted in Level 3. Only one-to-one swimming instruction is permitted in Level 3.
While the Government fully understands the benefits that sport brings to people's overall health and well-being, the measures in place to suppress the disease transmission are intended to minimise the risks to public health while striking the right balance in prioritising and protecting some activities over others. Such activities include health and social care services, education and other essential needs, work and economic activity, and other key societal interests (insofar as possible) such as sports and important family gatherings.
Each level of the framework contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering risk of transmission in alignment with the risk level at that time. The set of measures, individually, do not comprise a list of activities or places which are equally safe. Instead, they are “baskets” of measures which are informed by public health understanding of the disease. The measures in place for each level reflect the prevailing disease situation and recognise that we can and must prioritise some activities over others.
While I am pleased to note that COVID-19 data indicates some improvements across a range of indicators, which gives us hope that the epidemiological situation is once again coming under control, it is too early at this point to consider the easing of restrictions, including those currently applying to swimming pools.
314. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the recent grants to support cultural activities during Covid-19 have catered to the needs of the events sector that does not own premises; and if she has had discussions with the sector regarding its plight. [38342/20]
View answer327. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if supports will be made available such as an adaption of the live events fund of €50 million to event management companies that due to the nature of their business and not having a physical premises have been unable to avail of the Covid restrictions support scheme and the industry is at serious issue of collapse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38797/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 327 together.
Earlier in the month I announced the recipients of a pilot Live Performance Support Scheme to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters to plan live performances across the country over the coming months, with a total of 59 organisations benefiting from the scheme. The main objective of the scheme is to provide employment opportunities in the live performance sector while also complying with public health protection measures. Grants ranged from €10,000 to €400,000. The funds will support a variety of live events planned including concerts, pantomimes, theatre productions, festivals, outdoor performances and comedy events.
In many cases, parts of grants to promoters and producers of live events would be used to hire from services from SME event companies such as those supplying sound and lighting technical expertise.
The following eligibility and criteria applied to this pilot scheme :
- Established commercial producers and promoters that create live performances and have a proven record of accomplishment in the live performance sector
- Proven track record of live performances undertaken in the past 3 years (2017-2019),
- Planning to hold a live performance event that will commence in 2020,
- Provide three years of financial accounts (from 2016),
- The applicant must be tax compliant,
- Not ordinarily funded by the public sector since 2017 (excluding Covid-19 supports),
- One application will be considered, initially, for each project promoter.
The scheme was heavily oversubscribed with over 100 applications seeking funding of over €16m for events which would be staged in the lead up to and during the 2020 festive period.
This was a pilot scheme and it was the first of its kind which was developed following consultation with the sector. The operation of this scheme will inform any future similar schemes. The Department is engaging with successful and unsuccessful applicants to assess the operation of the scheme in 2020 with a view to informing future schemes. It is expected that a scheme of this kind will be provided in 2021 as part of a suite of measures to be funded from the €50 million announced as part of Budget 2021.
316. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Covid-19 adaptation grant application process can be amended to allow retail outlets that do not have a wine licence to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38464/20]
View answerThe administration of the COVID-19 Adaptation Fund is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for further information and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
317. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the need to protect local newspapers and print media in view of the fall in advertising revenue associated with Covid-19. [38499/20]
View answerThe Government has put in place a range of supports for all businesses which are available to the print and online sectors during health restrictions imposed by Covid-19. The production and publication of newspapers, journals and periodicals and the distribution of those publications has been listed as an essential service.
I met with representatives of the NUJ recently to hear their concerns and we agreed that my officials and I will continue to engage with them, with a view to ensuring a shared understanding of the challenges they face, and in order to protect and sustain this critically important sector.
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the importance of a vibrant, diverse and independent media to our democracy and our cultural development. In this context we have expanded the remit of the Public Service Broadcasting Commission to become the Future of Media Commission, tasked with considering the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion. On 29 September 2020 the Government agreed the terms of reference and membership of the Future of Media Commission.
I look forward to receiving the Commission's Report on the completion of its work which will inform media policy including print media.
318. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to support local radio stations in 2021 following her meeting with a representative body (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38500/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the importance of a vibrant, diverse and independent media to our democracy and our cultural development. In this context we have expanded the remit of the Public Service Broadcasting Commission to become the Future of Media Commission, tasked with considering the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion. On 29 September 2020 the Government agreed the terms of reference and membership of the Future of Media Commission. I look forward to receiving the Commission's Report on the completion of its work which will inform media policy including print media.
I met Independent Broadcasters Ireland (IBI) on the 16th November where supports for the sector were discussed and a follow up meeting has taken place at official level. We will continue to engage with the sector and with the BAI, with a view to ensuring a shared understanding of the challenges they face, and in order to protect and sustain local broadcasting as a critical component of the media sector generally.
During 2020, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) held two closed rounds for radio, targeted at the independent commercial and community radio sectors respectively.
In June 2020, the BAI awarded €2.5m Sound and Vision funding to 32 independent commercial radio stations across the country supporting public awareness and understanding of COVID-19. This was in addition to a waiver on the broadcasting levy for the independent radio sector for Q1 and Q2 2020 which saved the sector €1m. I secured €0.839m in Budget 2021 to recoup the BAI for this levy waiver.
In addition, the BAI distributed €750,000 this year in a special round for the community radio sector.
The purpose of the Sound and Vision Scheme is to support eligible content across the broadcasting sector as a whole, ensuring a balanced and fair approach. In light of the ongoing challenges faced by the sector, I secured an additional €2m in exchequer funding for the Sound and Vision Scheme under the July Stimulus Package. This greatly enhanced the funding available for the final round of the Scheme this year (round 37), bringing its total value to €4.5m. This funding round is open to those elements of the radio sector that were not eligible for the rounds to commercial and community radio earlier in the year, namely public service radio and independent audio producers, working in partnership with commercial, community and public service radio stations. In addition, the round is open to independent audio-visual producers, and commercial, community and public service television stations .
I was pleased to note the impact the Government horizontal supports are continuing to have on substantially reducing the cost base for the commercial radio sector during the restrictions. A total of €4.3m has been received across the industry from the Government’s COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Support Scheme. Local radio has also been included in the Government’s current advertising campaign on resilience.
The BAI continue to report to me quarterly on the Impact of COVID-19 on Commercial Radio Sector. I recently received the quarter 3 report and I am pleased to note the small growth in advertising revenues in that quarter. However, I recognise that the current lockdown has again had a severe impact on the sector, especially at local level. The BAI will continue to report to me on a quarterly basis and the Q4 report will help give a picture of the overall impact on the range of supports for the year.
The BAI is currently finalising the most recent round and no decisions regarding 2021 rounds have been made as yet. It must be recognised that the BAI is a statutorily independent body. However, I am aware the BAI will be meeting with representatives of the commercial radio sector to discuss the approach to Sound and Vision in the New Year and I very much welcome that. I will continue to work closely with the BAI to see how we can best support the sector in the coming period.
