Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021
269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she expects to be in a position to assist in the promotion of the arts post-Covid-19 given the challenges arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33488/21]
View answer271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which, notwithstanding the lockdown, she is in a position to encourage, promote and invest in the arts in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33490/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 271 together.
Decisions on COVID-19 public health measures are the responsibility of Government and are made by Cabinet, on foot of advice from NPHET and the Minister for Health. In line with the plan set out in The Path Ahead the Government has been implementing a phased easing of restrictions for the month of June. The Government will shortly make further decisions which should allow for the continued phased reopening of the music and entertainment sectors for the critical summer season, as the public health situation permits
The Government has responded to the challenges facing the arts, and culture sector through a range of measures. Significant additional funding was announced in Budget 2021, with €130 million allocated to the Arts Council for 2021 and €50 million for supports for life performance. The supports in 2020 and again in 2021 included provision for extensive online content to be generated. Supports have also been provided to those impacted in the arts, culture, performance and events sector through the pandemic unemployment scheme and various wage subsidy schemes. My Department also continues to expand the delivery of the Creative Ireland programme.
In 2021, I allocated €50 million for a suite of measures to assist the live performance sector aimed at supporting employment and well-being opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public. Included in this package are the following measures:
- I recently announced 237 grant allocations under the 2021 Live Performance Support Scheme amounting to €25m.
- An allocation of €14m has 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 negatively affected by COVID-19 and that do not qualify for other business supports. This Scheme is a demand led scheme and is accepting applications at present.
- An allocation of €5 million has been made available to local authorities for live performances in summer 2021 to animate town centres, should public health considerations permit.
- 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.
A new €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 (ESCSS) will support SMEs that are not eligible for the CRSS.
I am providing funding to local authorities in support of local creative and cultural activity under the Creative Communities Strand of the Creative Ireland Programme. The Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based programme to promote individual, community and national well-being. Its core proposition is that participation in arts, cultural and heritage-based activities drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. Under the Creative Communities initiative in the Creative Ireland Programme, my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provide funding to Kildare and to the other 30 local authorities to implement their individual Culture and Creativity Strategies 2018-2022.
In County Kildare, the Culture and Creativity Team is made up of local authority-defined positions including the Librarian, Arts Officer, Heritage Officer, Irish Language Officer and Climate Action Officer along with economic development staff. To support the implementation of their Culture and Creativity Strategy, Kildare County Council has been allocated funding on an annual to implement their Strategy. This includes access to targeted funding streams to facilitate engagement in creative ways to address societal issues such as those related to climate action, positive ageing and health and well-being. For example in 2021, Kildare County Council successfully applied for additional funding of €26,810 under the Creativity in Older Age scheme for an initiative that supports positive ageing groups in communities in Kildare to explore, discuss and question artworks from the Kildare County Council Municipal Art Collection.
Funding for local authorities for commemorative events under the Decade of Centenaries can be applied to appropriate cultural events under the creative imagination strand.
