Written Answers Nos. 270-289
270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to have dialogue with stakeholders in the entertainment sector with a view to alleviating insofar as is possible the hardship brought about as a result of Covid-19 and the utilisation of online performances in the short-term to keep the industry alive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33489/21]
View answerI have been very cognisant of the fact that the arts and culture sectors have been amongst the hardest hit by the necessary restrictions required to deal with COVID-19. I and my officials have been in regular and ongoing communication with stakeholders over the past 15 months to fully understand the challenges posed by COVID-19. I established a number of taskforces and consultative stakeholder fora to ensure that the most up to date information is available to me about the difficulties facing the sector. This includes:
- The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce;
- The Night-time Economy Recovery taskforce;
- The Return to Live Entertainment Working Group, and;
- The Life Worth Living Oversight Group.
In addition, my Department has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders including the Arts Council and other bodies under its aegis, advocacy groups such as the National Campaign for the Arts, resource organisations, individual artists and art practices, as well as representative groups, businesses and individuals in the entertainment and events sectors. This engagement with stakeholders was essential to the record allocation I secured for the arts and culture sector as part of Budget 2021 including €50m in supports for live entertainment and €130m in funding for the Arts Council.
The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations to support the recovery and resilience of the sector. My Department has been working with stakeholders to implement those recommendations and the Oversight Group I recently established will examine how the outstanding recommendations can be resolved.
I intend to continue this stakeholder engagement as we progress towards the reopening and recovery of the arts, culture and live entertainment sectors.
In additon, I allocated €50m for the live entertainment sector in 2021. As part of this I awarded €25m last week under the Live Performance Support Scheme and this will include supporting live-streaming of performances.
272. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she has evaluated the totality of the losses suffered by the various sectors under the aegis of her Department arising from Covid-19 or other reasons; the action taken or proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33491/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 pandemic has utterly changed the operating landscape for the Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. I am continuing to review the situation with my Department and Government colleagues based on up to date information on the roll-out of the vaccination programme and the prevailing epidemiological situation.
I have been actively working with the sectors within my remit to ensure that they are supported during the pandemic. Throughout these challenging times I and my officials have kept in contact with a broad range of stakeholders and I have established a number of groups and taskforces to ensure that I have the most up to date information about the difficulties facing these sectors.
In response to the challenges facing the sectors, I have put in place a number of substantial measures to support and strengthen the sectors through 2021. These include inter alia:
- A €55m support fund for strategic tourism businesses;
- €50m support for live entertainment - a range of supports for live entertainment events to take place in 2021 in venues across the country, other measures to support music, and a new grant scheme for equipment;
- A separate €11.5m Events Sector Covid Support Scheme;
- €130m for the Arts Council – a record level;
- Measures to support the Gaeltacht Summer college sector;
- Increased funding for sporting bodies of €88.5m provided last year, with Sport Ireland in ongoing communication with NGBs to assess financial needs for 2021.
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. Key measures include:
- 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;
- Extending the 9% VAT rate for hospitality to September 2022;
- 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
- A new, additional and more streamlined business support scheme to be introduced in September 2021, called the Business Resumption Support Scheme.
In addition, 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 will continue to engage with stakeholders across my sectors to monitor the evolving situation and to work with my Government colleagues to support these sectors not just during this pandemic, but into the all important recovery phase which will follow it.
273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she proposes to take to further alleviate the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism sector in the course of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33492/21]
View answerThe Government’s recently announced Economic Recovery Plan sets out a framework for recovery as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular sectors most impacted, such as tourism. 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 the tourism sector. The relevant measures include:
- 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 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.
In addition to benefiting from revised and extended horizontal supports, the Economic Recovery Plan also provides for an extension of the 9% VAT rate to September 2022, which will continue to act as a stimulus for the tourism sector as it moves towards recovery.
These measures and supports will provide tourism businesses with much-needed clarity that will enable them to plan longer-term with confidence and accept bookings. The ERP also commits to continuing to provide business continuity schemes through Fáilte Ireland.
Taking into account the new and revised horizontal supports set out in the ERP, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to examine what supports will be needed for the tourism sector in the coming months. I will discuss these proposed supports with colleagues across Government to ensure that the tourism and hospitality sector is supported in their recovery as we reopen our society and our economy. The Tourism Recovery Oversight Group, which I appointed last December to oversee the implementation of the Recovery Plan and monitor the recovery of the sector, will also continue to be a key input into my thinking with regard to further support for the tourism sector.
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her ongoing plans to generate increased cultural activity notwithstanding the ongoing presence of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33493/21]
View answerI am critically aware of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural sector and have engaged intensively with Government colleagues, stakeholders and officials to ensure that an appropriate suite of supports is available for the sector.
In this context, I allocated €50 million in 2021 to a number of measures to assist the culture sector, which includes the allocations for the €25m Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021) I announced on June 15th last. These grants will help support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public.
I also allocated €14m 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. Under the scheme, self employed businesses including musicians, singers, lighting and sound crew and audio equipment suppliers operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector are eligible to apply. Applications may be made via the MEBAS application portal on my Department’s website.
n addition to this, I have made an allocation of €5 million available to local authorities for live performances in summer 2021 to animate town centres, should public health considerations permit. This will allow for the procurement by local authorities of performances by local performers. This funding will be allocated shortly.
€5 million will also be made available for a scheme of capital supports for the commercial live entertainment sector, details of this scheme are under consideration.
I recently announced an additional €11.5m for a new Events Sector Covid Support Scheme which I hope to launch soon. This scheme will target SMEs in the events sector which aren’t eligible for the CRSS and for whom MEBAS and the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID-19 will not make a significant contribution to fixed costs relative to the level of support that that would be available under CRSS, had such SMEs been eligible for that support.
275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she expects to assist in the provision of sporting and recreational facilities throughout Ireland with maximum community benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33494/21]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1 billion.
The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritise the investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2020 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme closed for applications on Monday 1st March, 2021. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received. The scoring system and assessment procedures have been published and all applications are being assessed in accordance with these. Given the record number of applications and the detailed information contained in each application, the assessment process will take a number of months to complete. It is envisaged that allocations for applications for sports equipment- only will be made first during the Summer with allocations to other capital projects announced before the end of the year. It is intended to allocate a minimum of €40m under this round of the Programme.
Any organisation that has not already registered with the Department and wishes to apply for funding under future rounds must first register on www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie. Organisations must have a tax registration number from the Revenue Commissioners if they wish to register.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans for the encouragement of sporting and recreational activity in all primary and second-level schools throughout Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33495/21]
View answerIncreasing participation levels in sport for all age cohorts, including those attending school, is a priority of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027.
Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, supports a range of programmes and activities that aim to encourage, support and empower primary and secondary school children to actively participate in sport and physical activity. This is a central component of the recently launched Sport Ireland Participation Plan (2021-2024) and reflects the long term commitment made in the National Sports Policy that ‘all children enjoy their sporting experiences and have the physical literacy to underpin their participation in sport and physical activity throughout their lives’.
Sport Ireland is undertaking several initiatives for children and young people under its Participation Plan. Sport Ireland Coaching is currently working with the network of Local Sports Partnership (LSP’s) and National Governing Bodies (NGB’s) on the delivery of training for the coaches of primary school children “Coaching Children Programme” and the Coaches of second level coaches “Coaching Young People Programme”. Sport Ireland has also developed a ‘Coaching Girls programme for coaches of teenage girls. This workshop aims to reduce the high dropout rate of teenage girls from sport by upskilling and educating the coaches.
Sport Ireland is also funding school-based initiatives as part of the ‘Get Ireland Running’, ‘Get Ireland Swimming’ and ‘Get Ireland Cycling’ programmes in line with the National Sport Policy commitment to prioritise these sports as they have the greatest potential for generating high levels of active participation across the life course.
The European School Sports Day (ESSD) will take place on September 24th 2021. As part of the European Week of Sport 2021, Sport Ireland plans to support the Irish Primary PE Association (IPPEA) to coordinate the ESSD. The IPPEA have been invited to apply for funding supports and the application review process is currently underway. The IPPEA plan to grow the event from last year, reaching more students and schools. They have already held workshops with schools focusing on the sustainability of their activities following the ESSD. They also plan to continue with competitions for physical education equipment for schools, to drive further engagement.
Sport Ireland and my Department, in collaboration with the educational authorities, will continue to support these and other initiatives to get young people more active in our schools and in our communities.
277. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation her Department made to Fáilte Ireland in 2020 and 2021. [33575/21]
View answerDetails (at subhead level) of the annual funding allocations provided by my Department to Fáilte Ireland are available in the annual Revised Estimates Volume published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The subheads of relevance to Fáilte Ireland in 2021 are A3, A6 and A5 (shared with Tourism Ireland) and further detail is available in the Agency Statement for Fáilte Ireland in the Revised Estimates Volumes. In 2020 the subheads of relevance were E3, E6 and E5.
278. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation her Department made to Tourism Ireland in 2020 and 2021. [33576/21]
View answerTourism Ireland is funded through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland. Funding drawn down from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in 2020 amounted to €53,698,000 and for 2021 the amount allocated is €58,065,000.
The breakdown of the total Exchequer provision for tourism services from my Department's vote is available in the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for Public Services, which is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and available on that Department's website.
279. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation her Department made to RTÉ separate to monies allocated from the licence fee; and the breakdown of the allocation in 2020 and 2021. [33577/21]
View answerRTE is dual funded from commercial revenue and licence fee receipts.
There was no funding allocated to RTE in 2020, other than in respect of the licence fee.
The only additional funding allocated by my Department in 2021 was in respect of the funding agreed to support Irish language broadcasting in Northern Ireland alongside the New Decade, New Approach agreement.
In 2021, this will amount to funding of €100,000 for RTE to support the promotion of Irish language broadcasting in Northern Ireland.
In the interest of completeness, my Department from time to time enters into arrangements for the production of broadcast material relating to programmes including, for example, commemorations and the Creative Ireland programme.
280. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation for sports capital grants in 2020 and 2021; and if the grant programme is now open on an annual basis. [33578/21]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.
Due to the nature of the Programme it can take grantees a number of years to draw down grants. Details of all payments and allocations under the Programme are published on my Department's website https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme/#sports-capital-programme-applications-allocations-and-payments. The available annual funding for the Programme is contained within the relevant estimates volumes.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1st March, 2021. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received. Given the record number of applications and the detailed information contained in each application, the assessment process will take a number of months to complete. It is envisaged that allocations for applications for sports equipment- only will be made first during the Summer with allocations to other capital projects announced before the end of the year. It is intended to allocate a minimum of €40m under this round of the Programme.
281. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation her Department made to local authorities for the specific purpose of developing tourism in 2020 and 2021. [33579/21]
View answerThe Department does not directly fund local authorities for tourism purposes and all tourism funding is channelled through the tourism agencies Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Details (at subhead level) of the annual funding allocations provided by my Department in regard to tourism are contained within the annual Revised Estimates Volume published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The subheads of relevance to Fáilte Ireland in 2021 are A3, A6 and A5 (shared with Tourism Ireland) and further detail is available in the Agency Statement for Fáilte Ireland in the Revised Estimates Volumes. In 2020 the subheads of relevance were E3, E6 and E5.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for further detail in regard to funding provided by Fáilte Ireland to local authorities. Please contact my private office if you do not hear back within ten working days.
282. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of workers employed by her Department and in each office or agency under the aegis of her Department that earn less than the living wage of €12.30 per hour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33599/21]
View answerCurrent public service pay rates, which apply to both my Department and the State Agencies under my Department's remit, are set out in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 12 of 2020, application of 1st of October 2020 pay adjustments, available at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/39b2c-circular-12-2020-application-of-1st-of-october-2020-pay-adjustments/
I can advise the Deputy that there are currently 29 officers employed by my Department who earn less than €12.30 per hour.
In respect of the sixteen State Agencies under the remit of my Department, which fall under the scope of this PQ, 44 officers earn less than €12.30 per hour. This is illustrated in the table following.
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is independent in the discharge of its operations.
|
State Agency |
Number of Staff Earning Less than €12.30 per hour |
|
Arts Council |
Nil |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
13 |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
Nil |
|
Fáilte Ireland |
Nil |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
5 |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
Nil |
|
National Concert Hall |
Nil |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
Nil |
|
National Library of Ireland |
12 |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
14 |
|
Screen Ireland |
Nil |
|
Sport Ireland |
Nil |
|
Tourism Ireland |
Nil |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
Nil |
|
Ulster Scots Agency |
Nil |
283. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the disproportionality of the awards under the local live performance support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33602/21]
View answerI am critically aware of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the culture and entertainment sector and have engaged intensively with Government colleagues, stakeholders and officials to ensure that an appropriate suite of supports is available for the sector.
As part of the €50 million funding which I secured for the live entertainment sector, I recently confirmed the release of €5 million in funding for local authorities to support live music in villages and towns across the county. Following discussions with the County and City Managers Association, amounts of €285,000 are now available to the Dublin local authorities and €143,000 to all other local authorities to facilitate the programming of live performances over the summer months, animating town centres for local communities as public health considerations permit. Performances can be recorded or streamed if health restrictions prevent live events. Local authorities will be encouraged to engage events companies or curators to develop and deliver a programme of performances.
I have also recently announced the allocations for the €25m Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021). I was delighted to be in a position to fund 237 successful applications under this scheme, the details of which are available on my Department’s website. There was a very high level of interest in this scheme, with over 400 applications requesting funding in excess of €80 million. Given the available funding of €25 million, difficult decisions had to be made and it was not be possible to award grants to everyone who applied. All of the applications were assessed and scored and the allocations were based on the scores awarded. The 237 grants awarded will help support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public.
284. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated annual savings to the Exchequer from reducing the salaries of local authority chief executive grades by 2%, 5% and 10% in tabular form. [32866/21]
View answerThe table following details the estimated annual pay bill reduction if salaries were reduced by 10%, 5% and 2%.
|
Chief Executive |
Estimated annual savings |
|
10% Reduction |
€473,934 |
|
5% Reduction |
€236,967 |
|
2% Reduction |
€ 94,787 |
285. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the degree to which disputes have arisen in respect of boundaries which do not correspond to the area referred to therein and which have subsequently caused serious disputes; if means can be found to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33022/21]
View answerWith regard to the description of registered land on the current Property Registration Authority (PRA) map, Section 85 of the Registration of Title Act 1964 Act, as amended by Section 62 of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, provides as follows:
“Except as provided by this Act, neither the description of land in the register nor its identification by reference to a registry map is conclusive as to its boundaries or extent.”
The PRA has in place a robust structure whereby the registered owners of properties or their representatives can engage with the PRA in relation to matters pertaining to the mapped representation of the registration(s). The rights of all parties in possession remain under Section 72 of the Registration of Title Act 1964. The PRA is always available to discuss and review any registration and, if necessary and with consent of all affected parties, take appropriate steps to rectify matters.
286. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to include those who bought property after 31 January 2020 and were not aware of the presence of mica in the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32845/21]
View answerThe relevant local authorities are responsible for the detailed administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved.
Individuals who purchased a dwelling on or after 31 January 2020 will generally not be eligible for a grant. However, in certain limited circumstances, as an exception to the general rule, a relevant local authority may consider an application from an individual applying in good faith in the honest belief that they either did not know, or could not have known, that defective concrete blocks were used in the construction of the dwelling.
It is a matter for the relevant local authority, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, to determine, based on facts and evidence in each individual case, whether an applicant is eligible for grant assistance under the scheme.
287. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expenditure on HAP for 2020 and to date in 2021; and the projected increase in funding for 2022 and 2023. [32888/21]
View answer288. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expenditure on the social housing current expenditure programme for 2020 and to date in 2021; and the projected increase in funding for 2022 and 2023. [32889/21]
View answer289. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expenditure on RAS for 2020 and to date in 2021; and the projected increase in funding for 2022 and 2023. [32890/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 287, 288 and 289 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. To qualify for HAP, a household must be qualified for social housing support by their local authority. HAP tenants find their own accommodation in the private rented market.
The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) places responsibility on local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of people in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need.
The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies for the leasing of houses and apartments. Properties made available under the programme are used to accommodate households from local authority waiting lists.
The table following sets out the requested expenditure by scheme.
|
Scheme |
Expenditure in 2020 (€m) |
Budget 2021 allocation (€m) |
Spend to end Q1 2021 (€m) |
|
HAP |
464.6 |
558 |
127.4 |
|
RAS |
143.0* |
133 |
40.6 |
|
SHCEP |
197.3 |
250 |
32.7 |
*This figure includes €10m in RAS recoupment claims offset against local authority RAS Reserves in 2020.
Funding for future years will be agreed on an annual basis as part of the normal Estimates process.
