Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
338. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when businesses will be able to apply for and draw down funds under the music entertainment business assistance scheme which was launched on 9 March 2021. [21231/21]
View answer377. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports in place for the live events and entertainment sector; the status of the live performance support scheme 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21800/21]
View answer389. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the live performance sector; the details of applications under the €25 million fund to support events that will take place on or before 30 September 2021; the breakdown of applicants by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22040/21]
View answer408. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide details of the music entertainment business assistance scheme; and the timeline for the roll-out of same. [22315/21]
View answer409. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the mechanisms her Department has put in place to ensure an open competition for project tendering with regard to the recent grant funding allocated to local authorities to fund live performances in summer 2021. [22316/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 338, 377, 389, 408 and 409 together.
Recently, I was pleased to announce a €50 million suite of measures to support those in the Live Entertainment Sector. As part of this suite, an allocation of €25 million is being made available under the Live Performance Support Scheme 2021. This scheme builds on the successful outcomes of the pilot Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS) in 2020, which provided thousands of days of employment to hundreds of musicians, actors, crew and technicians and the valuable insights gained. This new scheme is aimed at commercial venues, producers and promoters in the culture sector and will support employment and well-being opportunities across all genres and continued high quality artistic output for the general public. Over 400 applications have been received seeking grants of €80m. Assessment of applications to the scheme are currently underway.
An allocation of €5 million will also be made available to local authorities for outdoor live performances in summer 2021 to animate town centres, should public health considerations permit. This will allow for the procurement by local authorities of performances by local performers. Performances can be recorded or streamed if health restrictions prevent live events. Local authorities will be encouraged to engage events companies to develop and deliver a programme of performances and seek to engage as diverse a range of performers as possible. The administrative arrangements and requirements for this scheme are being finalised and further details will be announced in due course.
As a further support measure for those in the live entertainment industry, an allocation of €14m will be made available for the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses, specifically musicians and related crew, that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19 and that do not qualify for other business supports. The main features of this new scheme will see support offered by way of two levels of flat payments:
- €2,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €20,000 - €100,000;
- €5,000 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover in excess of €100,000.
Under the scheme, businesses including musicians, singers, lighting and sound crew and audio equipment suppliers - whether sole traders, partnerships or incorporated entities - operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector will be eligible to apply. This scheme has been developed following wide consultation with the sector. Administrative arrangements for this scheme are being finalised and it is hoped that it will open for applications in the coming weeks when the necessary IT systems are in place.
In addition to these measures, €5 million is being made available for a scheme of capital supports for the commercial live entertainment sector.
