I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 99 together.
The COVID-19 pandemic has utterly changed the operating landscape for the sectors my Department supports. I recognise the ongoing impact the pandemic and associated public health measures continues to have on these sectors, on the people who work in them and on the communities that depend on them.
However, we should also recognise that these tough decisions have enabled all of us, through collective action, to protect the most vulnerable in our society, and with the ongoing rollout of the vaccination programme we find ourselves positioned at the beginning of a process where we can start to focus our efforts on economic and social recovery.
I have been actively working with and for the sectors within my remit to ensure that they are supported during the pandemic and have established a number of fora and taskforces to ensure that I have the most up to date information about the difficulties facing these sectors. These include:
- The Tourism Recovery Taskforce;
- The Hospitality and Tourism Forum;
- The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce;
- The Sports Monitoring Group.
In addition to these groups I have established the Night-time Economy Taskforce and the Future of Media Commission, both of which are looking at longer term polices in respect of night time culture and media respectively.
The Government's - The Path Ahead - plan particularly recognises the need for bespoke sectoral supports to address the worst impacted sectors in the forthcoming National Economic Recovery Plan.
I am resolved to continue to work with stakeholders across my sectors to monitor the evolving situation and to work with my Government colleagues to support these sectors not just during this pandemic, but into the all-important recovery phase which will follow it.
There has already been some key changes for the sports and tourism sectors in April. These include the reopening of outdoor visitor attractions, outdoor sports facilities and the return of underage non-contact outdoor training (which includes dance) in pods of 15.
As we come into the summer months more activity can take place outside. Fáilte Ireland’s Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme, which is being delivered in partnership with the local authorities, aims to develop outdoor dining capacity nationwide with a budget of €17million. €5m is also being allocated by my Department to local authorities to facilitate programming of outdoor live performances in summer 2021, animating town centres for local communities, should public health considerations permit. It will allow for the procurement by local authorities of performances by local performers.
Over the coming months, as the restrictions ease and the vaccine programme is rolled-out, we will see the safe and successful reopening of our society, and with it our Tourism sector, our Arts and Culture venues and events, and the eventual welcoming back of fans to our sportsgrounds.
