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Tuesday, 27 Jul 2021

Written Answers Nos. 521-537

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (521)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

521. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the plans in place for unvaccinated children utilising indoor play centres and camps; the effect this has on these facilities to reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39733/21]

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Written answers

On 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead, with an emphasis on lower risk activities given the risks posed by the Delta variant.

Details of current public health measures can be found online at gov.ie. Gov.ie provides the current position with respect to indoor leisure facilities and summer camps: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/7894b-post-cabinet-statement-resilience-and-recovery-the-path-ahead/#summer-camps. It provides that summer camps should adhere to public health measures on organised indoor and outdoor activities as appropriate, applying at the time. Currently outdoor camps can go ahead, but indoor camps are not permitted. Additionally, it provides that indoor facilities including indoor play centres must remain closed.

The public health measures decided upon by Government are also given effect in regulations made by the Minister for Health under Section 31A of the Health Act of 1937. The current regulations made under the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A) set limits on attendances at organised outdoor events and do not provide for any organised indoor events.

My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy responsibility for children and youth, including with respect to play and recreation.

Question No. 522 answered with Question No. 494.
Question No. 523 answered with Question No. 494.
Question No. 524 answered with Question No. 494.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (525, 539)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

525. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to include the summer camp sector in the events sector scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40016/21]

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Réada Cronin

Question:

539. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if summer and other camps for children will be added to the events sector for financial support in the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40464/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 539 together.

I recently announced details of a new €11.5 million Events Sector Covid Support Scheme (ESCSS). This scheme will target SMEs in the events sector which aren’t eligible for the CRSS and for whom the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme 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 would be available under CRSS, had such SMEs been eligible for that support. Grants will be paid on a once-off basis to successful applicants as a contribution to the businesses costs, up to a maximum of €50,000.

This scheme will be open to those SMEs who provide services to the events industry including services to provide for the production of all forms of live performance, trade shows, including event promoters, event management, conference organisers, security, supply of sound, lighting and stage equipment. Businesses whether sole traders, partnerships or incorporated entities operating within the events sector and who are ineligible for CRSS may apply.

Businesses providing summer and other camp services may wish to examine the eligibility criteria and guidelines for this scheme to determine if their individual businesses fall within the scope of this scheme.

This scheme will open for applications on 4th August, via an online application portal on my Department’s website. Further information in relation to this scheme can be accessed on my Department’s website here - www.gov.ie/en/publication/7f483-guidelines-for-the-events-sector-covid-support-scheme/.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (526)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

526. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the agencies and State organisations under her Department that are receiving State funding that do not have to declare salaries of employees under the 2016 code of governance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40045/21]

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Written answers

There are 20 bodies under the aegis of my Department all of which  are subject to the 2016 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

Chairpersons and Boards of all State bodies are required to implement Government policy in relation to the total remuneration package of the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)/Managing Directors of State bodies.  Chairpersons and Boards of State bodies are also required to implement any relevant Government policy with regard to the remuneration of the Board and all other staff. The Code also sets out the business and financial reporting requirements to be observed by State bodies including personnel compensation.

I trust that the above of assistance to the Deputy.  If the Deputy has a specific query in relation to any of the bodies under the aegis of my Department my officials will be happy to assist.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (527)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

527. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 260 of 22 June 2021, if she will seek an urgent further update as to the position of the case given that the live event is due to take place in the coming weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40056/21]

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Written answers

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). 

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 wellbeing opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public.

In relation to the application to which the Deputy refers, the application was assessed by the Evaluation panel and a letter issued to the applicant earlier this week.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (528)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

528. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when indoor sports such as squash will be permitted; if the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 will enable vaccinated persons to play indoor sport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40074/21]

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Written answers

Since 7 June 2021, indoor sports, swimming pools and leisure centres have been allowed to re-open for individual training purposes and for the provision of swimming classes. Any decision on the further lifting of the restrictions, and its timing, is a matter for Government and not for individual Ministerial decision. The Government has indicated that any such decision will be considered in the context of the prevailing public health situation and vaccination roll-out.

On 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead , with an emphasis on lower risk activities given the risks posed by the Delta variant.

The Government continues to follow its plan to review and monitor the control of the virus and follow the prevailing public health advice in support of a safe and gradual reopening, in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead. Unfortunately this means that indoor activities in groups or classes cannot be permitted at present. Detailed information and updates may be accessed on the Gov.ie website.

While there are no immediate plans to include indoor sport within the scope of the arrangements in place for the indoor hospitality sector under the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021, I am mindful of the potential for these arrangements to provide a roadmap for the re-opening of other sectors and will continue to engage with Government colleagues on the safe re-opening of all aspects of indoor and outdoor sports activities.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (529)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

529. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number and monetary amount of grants provided by Fáilte Ireland to businesses under the outdoor seating and accessories for tourism and hospitality business scheme in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40132/21]

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Written answers

The two-strand Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme is being delivered in partnership between Fáilte Ireland and Local Authorities across the country. Part One?of the?Scheme? (Outdoor Seating and Accessories for Tourism and Hospitality Services) is a grants scheme, supporting investment by individual tourism and hospitality businesses on?outdoor seating and accessories, which is administered and evaluated by the individual local authorities. Part Two of the?Scheme (Weatherproofing and Outdoor Dining Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme), which is administered and evaluated directly by Fáilte Ireland, provides capital funding to local authorities for direct investment in weatherproofing and outdoor dining infrastructure.

With regard to the Deputy’s request for details of applications and grants under this Scheme, I have referred the matter on to Fáilte Ireland for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Question No. 530 answered with Question No. 516.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (531)

Michael McNamara

Question:

531. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when all swimming lessons will resume; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40257/21]

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Written answers

Since 7 June, indoor sports, swimming pools and leisure centres have been allowed to re-open for individual training purposes and for the provision of swimming classes. Any decision on the further lifting of the restrictions, and its timing, is a matter for Government and not for individual Ministerial decision. The Government has indicated that any such decision will be considered in the context of the prevailing public health situation and vaccination roll-out.

On 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead, with an emphasis on lower risk activities given the risks posed by the Delta variant.

The Government continues to follow its plan to review and monitor the control of the virus and follow the prevailing public health advice in support of a safe and gradual reopening, in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead. Detailed Information and updates may be accessed on the Gov.ie website.

Departmental Meetings

Questions (532)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

532. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the dates in 2020 and to date in 2021 she or her officials have met formally with persons (details supplied) in tabular form. [40330/21]

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Written answers

Details of my diary appointments and those of Minister Martin are published periodically in arrears on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/6e364-ministers-diaries/ .

Currently Minister Martin’s diary is available up to November 2020 and my diary is available up to the end of January 2021.

Subsequent to this, meetings were held with the persons concerned on Monday 8 February 2021 and Monday 10 May 2021.

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Questions (533)

Neale Richmond

Question:

533. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the interaction she has had with RTÉ regarding its superannuation scheme; if she has engaged with pensioners that are experiencing issues with the broadcaster regarding their pension entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40338/21]

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Written answers

I can confirm that a proposal for an  increase in pension has been  submitted to my Department from the trustees of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme.   This application is currently under review by my Department and my officials have engaged with pensioners to provide an update on the current status of this application.   

Once that review is completed, I will consider the matter and I will consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Section 85 of the RTE Superannuation scheme provides for authorisation of increases, from time to time, following determination by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Tourism Industry

Questions (534)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

534. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of overseas visitors to Ireland in 2020; the projected number of overseas visitors to Ireland in the entirety of 2021; the projected number of visitors for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40400/21]

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Written answers

The collection of official national tourism statistics is the responsibility of the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Unfortunately, due to the Covid pandemic, the CSO has not been in a position to collect and publish such statistics, including data on overseas visitors to Ireland, since March 2020. Officials in my Department have been engaging with the CSO on this issue with a view to reinstating such data collection as soon as circumstances allow.

Sports Events

Questions (535)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

535. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the up to date position regarding a potential bid by Ireland and other nations to host the 2030 World Cup; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40401/21]

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Written answers

Along with our UK partners my Department has been involved in preliminary work to examine the possibility of bidding to jointly host the FIFA Men's World Cup in Ireland and the UK. A wide range of factors will be examined during this feasibility work prior to any final decision to bid.

The partners involved include the Government of Ireland, UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly Government, Northern Ireland Executive, UK Sport, the Irish Football Association, Football Association of Ireland, English Football Association, Scottish Football Association, and Football Association of Wales.

FIFA have indicated that the bid process for the 2030 FIFA Men's World Cup will open in 2022, with bids due to be submitted in 2024. Any decision to bid will be made collaboratively, with a formal announcement to follow in due course.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (536)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

536. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the allocations provided under the large-scale sports infrastructure fund will be topped-up to allow projects to be completed given the difficulties being faced by sporting organisations in providing match funding due to Covid-19 and the construction inflation that has occurred since the original allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40402/21]

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Written answers

The National Sports Policy as published in 2018 provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) and the National Development Plan provided a capital allocation of at least €100m for the Fund over the period to 2027.

The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and thus far, approximately €86.4m has been awarded to 33 different proposals.

The priority in the short term is to advance all of these projects. As it is now approximately 18 months since the first allocations were made, and in view of the issues faced by grantees as a result of the Covid pandemic, it is timely to review progress on all projects. My Department is engaging with all applicants in this regard. As well as the progress on existing grants, the Review is considering whether additional grants should be awarded including grants to previously unsuccessful applications. The timing of any new call for proposals is also being considered. Any new allocations, "top-up" grants or a new call for proposals, will be dependent on receiving additional funding for the LSSIF following the completion of the review of the National Development Plan. It is expected that my Department’s Review of the LSSIF will be completed in the coming months.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (537)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

537. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports for Irish writers that have been provided since the beginning of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40403/21]

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Written answers

Literature is an integral part of people’s lives in Ireland: books, stories, language and reading are essential to our culture and society. Ireland’s strong international reputation for literature is enhanced by contemporary writers who enjoy critical acclaim, win prestigious literary awards and attract significant readerships around the world.

Primary support for the arts including literature in Ireland is delivered by the Arts Council and it is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003.  Funding for the Arts Council has increased to €130 million for 2021.  The Arts Council operates within a published ten-year strategic framework entitled Making Great Art Work.  The Arts Council supports and develops the arts in Ireland through grant funding, project awards, support to individual artists, and support to venues, publications and resource organisations.

From the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, the Arts Council adopted a pro-active approach to supporting individual artists of all genres as well as arts organisations.  One of the Council's first actions was its announcement to honour all existing funding commitments, pre-funding grantees up to 90% of funding to assist with commitments, especially to artists.  Since then, the Arts Council introduced new and enhanced funding programmes such as commissions and bursaries. Further information of these investments can be accessed on the Arts Council’s website.

The Arts Council’s Literature budget in 2020 totalled €5.2 million, though it should be noted that this does not fully capture the Council’s investment in the art form, which is also supported through a range of other initiatives and budget lines.  These include supports for multidisciplinary and small festivals, arts centres, Aosdána and local authority partnerships.  Thus far in 2021, the Council has committed approximately €5.6 million to its support for Literature, including funding directly to writers, to festivals, key literature resource and children’s literature organisations, as well as writers residencies in universities.  These figures incorporate funding to a range of publishers in the English and Irish languages – these include poetry and children literature publishers as well as a number of literary journals.  The Council leads, or is central to, a number of special initiatives in literature, such as the Laureate for Irish Fiction Laureate na nÓg and the Ireland Chair of Poetry.  

In 2020, the Arts Council awarded 110 bursaries with a total value of €1,567,800 to writers working through English and through Irish. This crucial support enables writers working across all genres – fiction, creative-nonfiction, poetry, children’s literature – to take time to develop and create work. In addition to this, the Covid 19 Response Award, introduced immediately after the introduction of the public health restrictions, saw 37 writers receive grants of €3k each, totalling €111k.

The Arts Council introduced a new Professional Development Award for artists across all art forms; in Literature alone, the Council awarded 109 Professional Development Awards in 2020, with a total value of just over €200k. The Council introduced a new Project Award in Literature, which supported writers and literary organisations in the creation of literature projects, and that resulted in 22 awards, totalling approximately €346k. A Literature Commission Award was introduced, and this supported arts organisations to directly commission writers to develop new work. Funding totalled just over €100k, was awarded to nine organisations and the funding was dedicated exclusively to artists’ and writers’ fees.

So far in 2021, the Council has already awarded 69 Literature Bursaries (in English and Irish language literature) with a total value of 1,155,800. The Arts Council is in the process of assessing the most recent round, and the total budget that will be spent exclusively on the Literature Bursary Award is approximately €2 million.  

An Agility Award was introduced in 2021, and to date, the Council has supported 50 writers with a total value of €?220,750 through this open and flexible award. Round 2 of the Agility Award closed recently and a third opportunity will be available to writers later this year.

Details of these funding schemes and initiatives in support of literature can be viewed on the Arts Council's website at the following link http://www.artscouncil.ie/Arts-in-Ireland/Literature/Schemes-and-initiatives/.  All of the recipients of all awards are available on the Art Council’s website. 

In terms of Irish language initiatives, I should add that my Department provides significant funding to Foras na Gaeilge in order to carry out a statutory mandate to promote the Irish language on an all-island basis.  Foras provides ongoing support for publishing and literature through An Gúm, Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge, Áis and other initiatives.   An Gúm provides publications and facilities to support the language in the education system, Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge supports publishing in Irish through various funding schemes and ÁIS  distributes Irish language books throughout the country and further afield.  Other initiatives include support for key online publications (the newspaper Tuairisc.ie, the lifestyle magazine NÓS.ie and the current affairs magazine Comhar.ie) and literary festivals such as Listowel Writers Week and IMRAM.   Further information is available at the following link www.forasnagaeilge.ie/

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