Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
475. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of the €50 million expenditure allocation to live entertainment supports outlined in Budget 2021 that has been spent to date; the amount due to be spent by 31 December 2021; and the amount expected to be carried over into 2022. [31033/21]
View answer476. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the €50 million allocated to live entertainment supports in Budget 2021 was a once-off Covid-19 contingency allocation for 2021 only; and if this allocation is independent of Covid-19 specific funding and to be understood as a new element of her Department’s core funding allocation for arts and culture. [31034/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 476 together.
€50 million was allocated to live entertainment in Budget 2021 in recognition of the grave impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on the live performance sector.
A part of the €50 million suite of measures to assist the live performance sector, €25m has been allocated to Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021) which has now closed for applications. There was a high level of interest in this scheme, with over 400 applications received by the closing date of 14 April. The assessment of applications has now finished and applicants have been notified of the outcome of their applications. LPSS 2021 builds on the successful pilot Live Performance Support Scheme in 2020, which provided thousands of days of employment to hundreds of musicians, actors, crew and technicians in tandem with a pipeline of high quality on-line much needed entertainment for Irish audiences. The 2021 scheme is aimed at supporting employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public.
An allocation of €14m is been 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.
This scheme sees support offered by way of three levels of once-off flat payments;
- €2,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €20,000 - €50,000 with minimum business costs of €3,000 incurred from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2021;
- €4,000 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €50,001- €100,000 with minimum business costs of €6,000 from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2021;
- €5,000 for businesses with VAT-exclusive turnover in excess of €100,000 with minimum business costs of €7,500 from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2021
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 is now receiving application following wide consultation with the sector and applications are being received and processed. Further details in relation to this scheme, including guidelines and the application portal can be found on my department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/service/3cc71-music-and-entertainment-business-assistance-scheme/.
All local authorities have received allocations under the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme sharing an allocation of €5 million for live performances in summer 2021 to animate town centres, should public health considerations permit. This will allow for the procurement by all local authorities of performances by local performers. Performances can be recorded or streamed if health restrictions prevent live events.
Up to €1 million was allocated to the St Patrick's Festival 2021 for programming and it supported over 3,500 days of employment for performers, producers, artists, technicians, creatives and support staff. With gatherings still restricted, SPF 2021 curated a rich and dynamic programme of events involving hundreds of artists, musicians, performers, creators, and community organisations which was broadcast on the St. Patrick’s Festival TV online channel marking the national day.
Funding allocations for the above schemes will be spent before the end of this year and it is not planned to carry any funding into 2022. Allocations to Vote 33 the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for 2022 will be determined in the context of Budget 2022. As Minister, I intend to put forward the case for needs of all the sectors in my portfolio.
