Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to have dialogue with stakeholders in the entertainment sector with a view to alleviating the hardship as a result of Covid-19 and the utilisation of online performances in the short-term to keep the industry alive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11846/21]
View answerI am acutely aware of the challenges facing all musicians who rely on live performance to sustain their livelihoods on foot of necessary public health restrictions. An allocation of €50 million was made in Budget 2021 for the live performance sector. It is envisaged that the rollout of this funding would include measures such as a grant scheme along the lines of the pilot "Live Performance Support Scheme." My Department has gained valuable insights from these schemes and will apply these learnings when allocating funding this year. Other measures are also under consideration including those which have emerged from engagement with the sector and with stakeholders. This engagement is ongoing and it is hoped that further details and decisions will be announced shortly.
The operation of the pilot Live Performance Support Scheme clearly demonstrated the versatility of the live entertainment sectors and particularly showed that staging high quality live entertainment does not depend on an easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Since mid-November throughout the Christmas period, and continuing even now, the scheme has provided a pipeline of exceptionally high-quality streamed concerts, a raft of pantomimes and theatre productions which were very well received and watched both in Ireland and across the world.
My Department has also supported a range of other initiatives to ensure that there is good quality artistic and cultural content available online for the general public. These have included the Other Voices Courage programme, the Culture Ireland Performs initiative, live streamed concerts from the National Concert Hall and the Abbey Theatre’s Dear Ireland project. Creative Ireland has targeted supports at older people in long term care settings.
My colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has in place a range of business and financial supports available to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and these can be viewed at the following link https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/ . This includes a new scheme called the COVID Business Aid Scheme (CBAS) which is aimed at those businesses who fall outside the eligibility requirements for CRSS. Supports such as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the CRSS will continue to be made available to those impacted. The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is also available to help maintain people in jobs.
My Department has regular engagement with a range of stakeholders in respect of the supports required to sustain the sector in light of continuing restrictions on live performance.
