Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
516. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the Covid-19 business supports under her remit; the allocation provided for each scheme; the amount that has been spent to date; the amount expected to be spent by the end of 2021; and the amount that will be carried over to 2022. [31080/21]
View answerThe gross total allocation for my Department in 2021 is €1,081,818,000. Details of all allocations are set out by programme area and by subhead in the Revised Estimates Volume 2021 (REV2021) published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on its website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates
REV2021 allocations recognise the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the sectors under the aegis of my Department, however, there is no specific categorisation of funding allocations within programme areas other than by subhead.
A number of schemes will be implemented in 2021 in direct response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. These include:
€50m in respect of a Business Continuity Fund being administered by Fáilte Ireland;
€50m in respect of a variety of supports for the Live Entertainment sector including a 2021 iteration of the very successful 2020 Pilot Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS) and the recently announced Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS);
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 COVID Restrictions Support Scheme; and
€15m in supports for sports and recreation services via Sport Ireland.
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.
The Government's response to the impact of the pandemic on the sector and the economy generally is comprised of a broad range of supports delivered across a range of Departments. In addition to direct intervention measures introduced by my Department, 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. This includes:
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; and
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.
Details of all expenditure by my Department and all Government departments are published by the Department of Finance on a monthly basis at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b9bc4-fiscal-monitor-may-2021/
Total gross expenditure for my Department to 31 May 2021 amounts to €273.68m. This figure is provisional as all expenditure within my Department's Vote is subject to an ongoing internal verification and monitoring process to ensure the best use of available financial resources. Adjustments may fall to be made between subheads as part of this process and all figures are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
While it is too early to accurately forecast the full end of year outturn, I can advise that no significant savings are envisaged at present. All expenditure within my Department's vote will continue to be carefully monitored between now and year end to ensure the best use of available financial resources.
