I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 107, 111, 112 and 116 together.
I allocated €50 million in 2021 to a suite of measures to assist the arts and culture sector. As part of that funding, on Tuesday June 15th I announced the allocations for the €25m Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021). All allocations of funding for arts, culture and entertainment purposes made by my Department are subject to approval by me as Minister.
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. The 237 grants awarded will help support employment and well-being opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public.
All applications were referred to an Evaluation Panel for assessment and recommendations for allocations which were then subject to approval. The Evaluation Panel consisted of five members, independent from the administration area running the scheme. Along with two department representatives, the external members were as follows; Mr. Gary Sheehan, Head of Programme Planning at the National Concert Hall, Mr. Ciaran Walsh – a freelance theatre producer and currently Showcase Manager with Culture Ireland, and Ms. Louise Donlon Executive Director of the Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, and Belltable, in Limerick’s city centre.
All panel members were required to sign a declaration regarding conflict of interest and confidentiality in relation to this scheme.
Officials in my Department are engaging with applicants in relation to queries regarding the outcome of their Live Performance Support Scheme application. Information in relation to the appeals process for this scheme is available on my Department's website here - www.gov.ie/en/service/ca5d7-live-performance-support-scheme-2021/.
Details in relation to the number of applications submitted for this scheme by county are included in the table below;
County
|
No. of LPSS 2021 applications Submitted
|
Carlow
|
5
|
Cavan
|
4
|
Clare
|
13
|
Cork
|
37
|
Donegal
|
19
|
Dublin
|
156
|
Galway
|
18
|
Kerry
|
24
|
Kildare
|
10
|
Kilkenny
|
9
|
Laois
|
5
|
Leitrim
|
3
|
Limerick
|
10
|
Longford
|
2
|
Louth
|
11
|
Mayo
|
13
|
Meath
|
16
|
Monaghan
|
4
|
Offaly
|
7
|
Roscommon
|
2
|
Sligo
|
8
|
Tipperary
|
12
|
Waterford
|
3
|
Westmeath
|
8
|
Wexford
|
6
|
Wicklow
|
11
|