Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021
88. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on maintaining pandemic supports to those working in tourism, culture, arts, Gaeltacht and sports given that these sectors being the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33223/21]
View answer109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department continue to encourage and assist the recovery of sectors of the economy under her remit in the aftermath of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33190/21]
View answer112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to encourage the arts, culture and tourism sectors in the context of recovery post-Covid-19 throughout the country by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33191/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 109 and 112 together.
I strongly support the Government's plan to maintain pandemic supports, as set out in in the recently launched Economic Recovery Plan (ERP). In particular, sectors such as tourism, live events, sports and the arts have been among the worst-affected sectors of the pandemic, and the Economic Recovery Plan recognises the particular impact on the economic viability of the sectors that will continue for longer than other sectors in the economy while of physical distancing remains a feature of these sectors.
Under the Economic Recovery Plan, Government has committed to maintaining supports by extending 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. Of particular relevance are the following measures:
- Extending the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS);
- 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 Economic Recovery Plan also 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 measures for the Tourism, Live Events and the Arts and Culture, which are providing additional interventions to support recovery in these sectors.
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.
The Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and I have also agreed to deliver a separate €11.5m new fund for the entertainment industry, including festivals, conferencing and large events . This Events Sector Covid Support Scheme will support SMEs that are not eligible for the CRSS.
I am also delighted that the 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 targeted 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 will also continue.
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.
In regard to sport, a total Covid-19 funding package of €88.5 million was provided last year to support the sport sector. This significant investment benefited all levels of the sport sector, including thousands of grassroots clubs across the country, and provided some certainty for sporting organisations in their planning for 2021. In relation to further Covid-19 funding for 2021, Minister Chambers and I have committed to supporting the sport sector again this year in meeting the challenges arising from Covid-19. Sport Ireland is in ongoing communication with the NGBs and is assessing the financial needs of the sector. In addition, I am engaging with NGBs with regard to the supports required.
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.
