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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions (500)

Imelda Munster

Question:

500. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the additional allocation that has been made to her Department under the Economic Recovery Plan announced on 1 June 2021; and if she will provide an itemised breakdown detailing the additional funding allocated to each area or project under her Department’s remit under the plan.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31064/21]

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Written answers

The Government’s recently announced Economic Recovery Plan sets out a framework for recovery as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, and pays particular attention to sectors most impacted, such as tourism and hospitality, live events and the arts. The Economic Recovery Plan responds to the commitments made in the Programme for Government in charting a path to recovery from the challenge of COVID-19.

Under the Economic Recovery Plan , Government extended the period during which a range of horizontal and business supports will be available to enterprises and workers in all sectors of the economy, including Tourism, Arts and Culture, Sport, Media and those working in Gaeltacht communities.

- Extending the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS). Revisions will see payments for businesses reopening of up to €30,000.

- Extending the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme to 31 December.

- Extending the Pandemic Unemployment Payment beyond 30 June 2021.

- Extending the Commercial Rates Waiver to end-September 2021.

- Broadening of eligibility criteria for the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID-19, which opens the scheme up to businesses in non-rated premises.

- The ERP sets out the intention to introduce a new, additional and more streamlined business support scheme in September 2021, called the Business Resumption Support Scheme.

In addition to horizontal supports, the Economic Recovery Plan includes a package of sectoral supports for the Tourism, Live Events and the Arts and Culture.

For the live events, arts and culture sectors, I opened applications for the new €14 million Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme last week, on 9 June. This payment is targeted at helping not only bands and musicians, but suppliers and music businesses. I also recently announced 237 grant allocations under the €25m Live Performance Support Scheme.

A separate €11.5m new fund for the entertainment industry, including festivals, conferencing and large events has been agreed between myself and the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. This Events Sector Covid Support Scheme will support SMEs that are not eligible for the CRSS.

I am also delighted that the National Economic Recovery Plan includes a commitment for Government to prioritise a Basic Income guarantee pilot scheme for artists. This was a key recommendation of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce, and I will bring forward a proposal following the report of the Arts and Culture Recovery Oversight Group in July.

I also recently confirmed the release of funding for local authorities with €5m to support live music in villages and towns across the country. Amounts of €285,000 are now available to the Dublin local authorities, and €143,000 to other local authorities to facilitate programming of outdoor live performances over the summer months, animating town centres for local communities as public health considerations permit. Local Authorities and hospitality businesses can also benefit from Fáilte Ireland's Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme, which will facilitate?greater capacity in?outdoor dining?by supporting the upgrade and enhancement of streets and public spaces, and implementing weather-proofing solutions which will facilitate year-round outdoor dining.

In addition to benefiting from revised and extended horizontal supports, the Economic Recovery Plan also provides the following additional interventions for the Tourism sector:

- An Extension of the 9% VAT rate to September 2022. This will continue to act as a stimulus for the sector as it moves towards recovery.

- The Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity Scheme, which will continue to support businesses not covered by the CRSS.

- An extension of the commercial rates waiver to September 2021.

This will provide tourism and hospitality businesses with much-need clarity that will enable them to plan longer-term with confidence and accept bookings. Government also recognises that as long as physical distancing remains a public health requirement, further supports may be needed for these sectors.

These supports will augment the work already being undertaken by Údarás na Gaeltachta, Fáilte Ireland, and Screen Ireland in supporting Gaeltacht companies, the Tourism and Hospitality sector, and the audiovisual industry to withstand the full impact of the pandemic and position them for growth in the coming years.

I will continue to work with colleagues across Government to ensure that the sectors covered by my Department are supported in their recovery as we reopen our society and our economy.

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