Written Answers Nos. 398-417
398. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will report on her recent visit to the United States of America; and the companies or senior officials of companies she met with during this trip. [50558/21]
View answerI recently joined Tourism Ireland in the United States where I undertook a busy programme of tourism, sporting and cultural engagements to promote Ireland.
As the deputy is aware, COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on Irish tourism. Given that the United States was (pre-COVID) the second-largest source market for tourism to the island of Ireland, worth €1.5bn in 2019, it was important that I travelled to the market as we work to restart tourism from overseas.
I was on hand to launch Tourism Ireland’s new ‘Green Button’ campaign. This new campaign aims to re-start tourism and encourage Americans to book Ireland as their next holiday destination. The €4.1 million campaign is targeting six key gateways and 11 priority cities, to reach and engage audiences who have the highest potential to travel to the island of Ireland. It is scheduled to run until early January 2022.
I also attended business roundtable lunches with leading travel trade, carrier and media contacts in both Chicago and New York. Attendees included representatives of United Airlines, American Airlines, Aer Lingus, and the US Tour Operators Association among others. I also attended a meeting with Tourism Ireland’s Marketing Partnership Group, who are key representatives of the US travel sector. More than 20 other tourism operators and commentators were in attendance at these events which had a heavy emphasis on Ireland's readiness to welcome back overseas tourists.
I met with the organisers of the Ryder Cup to discuss the planning for Ireland's hosting of the 2027 iteration of the event in Limerick. I also met with college football representatives regarding our plans for an annual series of college football games hosted in Dublin, starting in August 2022.
During this important overseas visit I also conducted a series of interviews with Travel, Sport and Diaspora media outlets in Chicago and New York to promote Ireland as holiday destination.
In the culture area of my remit, I held discussions with the organisers of the annual Milwaukee Irish Fest, with the Notre Dame Institute for Irish Studies, and with a number of Irish artists at the Irish Arts Center in New York. As is set out in Global Ireland 2025, the New York Irish Arts Center, founded in 1972, showcases Irish culture through performance, exhibition and education. With the Government’s strong support , it is undertaking an ambitious redevelopment project to construct a new state-of-the-art Irish Arts Center which is now nearing completion. This project is emblematic of the importance of Irish communities and cultural organisations abroad partnering with the Government as it looks to double Ireland’s global footprint. The new Irish Arts Center will be a cultural flagship in a key global city, and will permit established and emerging Irish artists across a range of disciplines to have a permanent creative home in the US. I was pleased to have the opportunity to receive an update on the project from the Center’s Director.
Overall, I got a great sense of a strong and ongoing connection with Ireland and that people are really looking forward to coming back to visit. There is also a sense that we have handled Covid-19 well and that we are a relatively safe place to visit, thanks in no small measure to our excellent vaccination programme.
399. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide information on the local creative youth partnerships of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50593/21]
View answerThe Creative Youth Plan was published by the government in December 2017 as one of the five pillars of the Creative Ireland Programme. The Plan sets out a number of measures designed to enable the creative potential of every young person, both within the formal education system and in informal or community settings. While the Creative Youth Plan is wider than the arts, it embraces the arts as a mechanism through which children and young people can experience creativity.
Implementation of the Plan is led by my Department in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Arts Council. Significant progress on the delivery of its objectives has been achieved to date. Further details on the current range of initiatives and projects which are being supported under the Creative Youth Plan are available from the Creative Ireland Programme website (https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/creative-youth/).
One of the key community-based initiatives implemented under the Creative Youth Plan is the pilot Local Creative Youth Partnerships, which are co-funded by my Department and the Department of Education. Based within the youth service of participating Education and Training Boards, the first three pilots were established in Limerick Clare ETB, Laois Offaly ETB and Kerry ETB in 2019.
The key aim of these partnerships is to develop and strengthen local networks and relationships; to support collaboration with and between local youth services and settings and creative practitioners thereby bringing about better use of resources.
In addition to this primary focus, the funding provided by government also enables the partnerships to support the delivery of new local creative projects and initiatives – particularly targeted projects to include and engage those children and young people that are often seldom heard and least served.
The work of these pilot partnerships are guided by the key policy aims of Creative Youth, which is to expand young people’s access to creative initiatives and activities, focus on the inclusion of every child, and support positive and sustainable outcomes for children and young people through creative engagement.
Earlier this year, Minister Foley and I agreed to expand the initiative to include an additional three partnerships. These new partnerships – based in Cork ETB, Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB and Galway Roscommon ETB – are now being established and will add to the opportunities available locally for young people to engage with and reap the benefits of creative activities.
400. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way she plans to fund the €66.7 million worth of new schemes outlined in budget 2022, including €25 million each in new funding for the pilot basic income scheme and live entertainment supports and extra supports for audio visual arts, national cultural institutions and night-time culture, given that the current expenditure for the arts and culture programme is only set to increase by €200,000 from 2021 to 2022; and the person or body that will have their funding cut from 2021 to make up the difference. [50745/21]
View answerI have secured significant allocations in Budget 2022 which will allow my Department to:
- Introduce a pilot Basic Income Guarantee scheme for Artists with funding of €25m
- Continue and expand its support of arts, artists and the arts sector as a whole including maintaining funding of €130m for the Arts Council
- Provide supports of €25m for the live entertainment industry
- Enhance support to the National Cultural Institutions with an additional €5m
- €4m to support initiatives for the Night-time Economy
- Increase support for the audio visual industry with a €6.65m increase to over €36.7m for Screen Ireland
- An increase of €1.5m for the Creative Ireland Programme
- €4.6m for Culture Ireland and
- €5m for the 2022 Commemorations Programme
Funding for all the organisations and State bodies funded under the Culture Programme has been either increased or maintained at 2021 levels. For example funding for the Arts Council was maintained at the current record level of €130m. This will empower the Arts Council to help artists, arts workers and arts flourish again in Ireland.
As part of Budget 2022 I have allocated €25m for continuing supports for the Live Entertainment Sector. While the equivalent figure for 2021 was €50m this reflects the fact that during 2021 the country was subject to significant levels of restrictions with either no live performance or very small numbers permitted for the period January to September and as a result significant levels of subvention for the commercial sector was required to protect the viability of the sector.
At present, the expectation is that such significant restrictions won't be required in 2022 and therefore lower levels of subvention may be required when the sector returns to full capacity. Of course, the Government is aware both that it will take time for the sector to return to full capacity and that Covid restrictions could become necessary again in 2022. To this end, as part of Budget 2022, my colleague Pascal Donohoe T.D., Minister for Finance, has created a Covid contingency fund of €4bn for next year. This fund will provide certainty and flexibility for the public finances should the situation with the virus deteriorate unexpectedly over the coming year.
The funding I am allocating for 2022 will be used to support artists, arts organisations and the live entertainment sector emerge from the Covid-19 crisis, and it will ensure that people right across the country can continue to engage with the arts in 2022 and beyond.
401. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the outcomes that are foreseen from the €5 million in extra funding promised to the national cultural institutions in budget 2022; and the breakdown of the way this will be distributed. [50746/21]
View answerThe additional €5m in extra funding being allocated to the national cultural institutions will be broken down as follows:
|
National Cultural Institution |
|
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
€500k |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
€400k |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
€420k |
|
National Concert Hall |
€430k |
|
|
|
|
National Museum of Ireland |
€1,600k |
|
National Library of Ireland |
€750k |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
€900k |
|
total |
€5,000k |
This additional funding will enable the NCIs to continue to provide outstanding exhibitions, events and outreach programmes for the public both onsite and online. The NCIs have demonstrated remarkable resilience during the crisis and will use these additional resources to progress their already impressive digital and onsite offerings and also to address ongoing revenue challenges arising from the pandemic. Many of the bodies are currently developing plans for extended opening which will benefit from extra funding. This support is a vote of confidence in our NCIs and builds on the investment planned for each institution’s capital development project. I am delighted that my Department is able to provide this additional investment which will create ambitious, high quality cultural experiences for an increasingly diverse Irish audience.
402. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the outcomes that are foreseen from the €6.7 million in extra funding promised to the audio visual industry in budget 2022; and the breakdown of the way this will be distributed. [50747/21]
View answerAs Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, along with having responsibility for policy within the audiovisual industry, I allocate funding to Screen Ireland, the development agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry. The additional funding of €6.65m will be allocated to Screen Ireland and will be made up of €700,000 in current funding and the balance of €5.95m in capital funding.
Regarding the specific outcomes and the breakdown of that additional funding, I have referred your question to Screen Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
403. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the outcomes that are foreseen from the €4 million in extra funding promised to the night-time economy in budget 2022; and the breakdown of the way this will be distributed. [50748/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I published the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce last month. This Report contained a number of recommendations which aim to stimulate and drive the Night-Time Economy across the country. I was pleased to secure €4m in funding towards the implementation of that Report which will go towards funding a number of recommendations which my own Department is leading or supporting. It should be noted that this is cross-Governmental Report and that my colleagues in other Departments will also be leading and driving a range of recommendations in this context. Some of the key priorities for funding include:
- A new Scheme for Pubs and Cafés to broaden NTE activity across the country;
- Establishing six new pilot structures across the country to include NTE Advisors – innovative new partnerships will be established in six locations with the support of a NTE Advisor
- Later night-opening in the National Cultural Institutions with supportive cultural programming and new pilot late night initiatives to be developed in a selection of Cultural Institutions
- Building on the pilot late night activities for Culture Night, develop more ambitious and innovative programming for 2022 in partnership with the Arts Council and the NTE sector.
I look forward to the outcomes of these new initiatives and to supporting the further development and rejuvenation of the sector.
404. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the outcomes that are foreseen from the €25 million in extra funding promised in live entertainment supports in budget 2022; the breakdown of the way this will be distributed; and if it will not take a similar delay again to the eight months artists waited in 2021 for live entertainment supports to be distributed following budget 2021. [50749/21]
View answer411. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has cut the funding for the live entertainment sector allocated in Budget 2021 by half in Budget 2022; and the reason she is forcing such cuts on the independent and commercial sectors while they are struggling to recover and at the same time, maintaining funding for the traditionally funded arts sectors at €130 million, inclusive of the increase in 2021. [50757/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 411 together.
I am acutely aware of the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the arts/culture and live entertainment sectors. I have engaged with numerous stakeholders in the sector during the course of the pandemic to ensure that appropriate supports were put in place.
As part of Budget 2022 I have allocated €25m for continuing supports for the Live Entertainment Sector. While the equivalent figure for 2021 was €50m the Deputy must bear in mind that during 2021 the country was subject to significant levels of restrictions with either no live performance or very small numbers permitted for the period January to September and as a result significant levels of subvention for the commercial sector was required to protect the viability of the sector.
At present, the expectation is that such significant restrictions won't be required in 2022 and therefore lower levels of subvention may be required when the sector returns to full capacity. Of course, the Government is aware both that it will take time for the sector to return to full capacity and that Covid restrictions could become necessary again in 2022. To this end, as part of Budget 2022, my colleague Pascal Donohoe T.D., Minister for Finance, has created a Covid contingency fund of €4bn for next year. This fund will provide certainty and flexibility for the public finances should the situation with the virus deteriorate unexpectedly over the coming year.
I understand that the full return of live performance will not happen overnight. I am examining the supports in place for the sector to ensure that available resources are best deployed to meet the needs of the sector to ensure a full recovery is possible. This €25m will build on the supports provided by my Department during the pandemic including the LPSS, LLPSS, MEBAS, ESCSS and CECGS schemes. I will ensure that those funds are made available early in the new year and am confident that this funding will help drive employment opportunities and activity in the sector.
In addition, the €25m I allocated under the Live Performance Support Scheme and the €5m I allocated under the Local Live Performance Support Scheme is currently supporting events across the entire country, with live performances and events happening in every county.
405. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé hiad na tograí a mhaoineofar leis an €0.7 milliún breise molta don Fhoras Teanga, go háirithe cé mhéad den mhaoiniú seo a leithdháilfear ar Fhoras na Gaeilge, ar Bhord na hUltaise agus ar Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge. [50750/21]
View answerFógraíodh allúntas bhreise de €700,000 don bhForas Teanga Thuaidh Theas i gCáinaisnéis 2022.
Is í an Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas (CATT) a cheadaíonn na buiséid do na Forais Trasteorann uile, An Foras Teanga san áireamh. Déantar Foras na Gaeilge a chómhaoiniú ar an mbonn 75% ón Roinn ó dheas agus 25% ón Roinn Pobal ó thuaidh. Déantar Gníomhaireacht na hUltaise a chómhaoiniú ar an mbonn 25% ón Roinn ó dheas agus 75% ón Roinn Pobal ó thuaidh.
Tá tús curtha le comhráití leis an Roinn Pobal féachaint le comhmhaoiniú a chur ar fáil don allúntas bhreise seo de €0.7m do bhuiséad an Fhoras Teanga do 2022. Ní thosaíonn bliain airgeadais an Tuaiscirt go dtí mí an Aibreáin. Fágann seo go bhféadfadh go mbeadh roinnt míonna sula mbeifear in ann buiséad aontaithe an Fhoras Teanga Thuaidh Theas do 2022 a fhógairt.
406. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé hiad na tograí a mhaoineofar leis an €3.3 milliún breise molta do “Irish language and Gaeltacht support schemes”, agus idirdhealú a dhéanamh idir an maoiniú breise molta do “Irish language support schemes” faoi Chlár C.4 agus “Gaeltacht support schemes” faoi Chlár C.3. [50751/21]
View answerBeidh €1m breise (idir chaipiteal agus reatha) san áireamh i bhfomhír C3 de chuid mo Roinne don Chlár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga sa Ghaeltacht in 2022, sin cistíocht iomlán ar fiú €11.2m é Baintear leas as an gcistíocht reatha go príomhá chun an trí scéim faoi leith a thagann faoina scáth a mhaoiniú eadhon: Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga agus Scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh chomh maith le tuairim is 12 eagraíocht Ghaeltachta eile a bhfuil clár oibre comhaontaithe leo agus á gcur i bhfeidhm acu go bliantúil ar son an phróisis phleanála teanga sa Ghaeltacht. Comhthreomhar leis an gcúnamh reatha, tá cistíocht caipitil á cur ar fáil faoin gclár in 2022 a mbainfear leas as chun cabhrú tuilleadh le forbairt áiseanna pobail agus teanga sa Ghaeltacht.
Faoi na Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge (Fomhír C4 de chuid mo Roinne), cuirtear idir chúnamh caipitil agus reatha ar fáil go leanúnach do réimse leathan tograí teanga taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Beidh €2.3m breise san áireamh i Vóta mo Roinne do na Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge in 2022, sin cistíocht iomlán ar fiú €9.95m é. Soláthraíonn na scéimeanna seo maoiniú d’eagraíochtaí agus do thionscadail éagsúla Gaeilge, chun tacú le forbairt na hóige agus í a spreagadh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Maoineofar eagraíochtaí atá gníomhach sna réimsí gnó agus cultúrtha agus sna réimsí teicneolaíochta agus digiteacha chomh maith.
Déanfar cinntí maidir leis an mbealach a chaithfear an t-airgead breise atá faighte don dá fhomhír seo sna míonna amach romhainn.
407. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén fáth nach bhfuil aon mhaoiniú breise nó aon fhoireann breise fógartha sa Bhuiséad do 2022 chun tacú le róil nua leathnaithe an Choimisinéara Teanga mar atá molta i mBille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú). [50752/21]
View answerCuirfear €200,000 breise ar fáil d'Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga in 2022 chun cur ar a gcumas tuilleadh foirne a earcú le freastal ar na héilimh bhreise ar bheas ar an oifig mar gheall ar fhorálacha nua Bhille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2019.
408. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén fáth nach bhfuil aon tagairt sa Bhuiséad don Chiste Cobhsaíochta geallta do Choláistí Samhraidh Gaeltachta le roinnt míonna anuas, agus cathain a chuirfear maoiniú ar fáil dó. [50753/21]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, baineann Buiséad 2022 le gnóthaí airgeadais na bliana seo chugainn agus ní leis an mbliain reatha. De thoradh COVID-19 beidh a fhios ag an Teachta gur cuireadh dhá chiste cobhsaithe faoi leith ar bun in 2021 ar leas lucht lóistín na hearnála agus lucht stiúrtha hallaí pobail na Gaeltachta a mbaintear úsáid astu mar chóiríocht teagaisc agus siamsaíochta.
Agus na cistí sin á gcur le chéile, ar fiú beagnach €2.5m iad, cuireadh san áireamh oiread agus is féidir, an t-aiseolas a fuarthas mar chuid de phróiseas comhairliúcháin a d'eagraigh mo Roinn níos túisce i mbliana. Maidir le cás na gcoláistí iad féin aithníodh go mbeadh cur chuige ina leith níos casta ná anuraidh.
Pé scéal é, tá an obair ullmhúcháin maidir le dearadh agus ullmhú ciste cobhsaithe ina leith nach mór críochnaithe anois ag an Roinn i dtreo a bheith in ann beart eile faoi leith ar leas na gcoláistí a fhógairt gan rómhoill eile.
De thoradh sin go léir, táim sásta go mbeidh teacht aniar rathúil ann do chóras na gcoláistí in 2022.
409. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé hiad na tograí a mhaoineofar leis an gcaipiteal breise ar luach €1 mhilliún atá molta don Ghaeltacht i mBuiséad 2022. [50754/21]
View answerIs faoi gClár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga (CTPT) de chuid na Roinne a chuirtear idir airgead caipitil agus reatha ar fáil le cabhrú le feidhmiú foriomlán an phróisis pleanála teanga sa Ghaeltacht. Is iondúil go gcaitear ciste caipitil an chláir bunaithe ar na hiarratais agus tograí a thagann chun cinn ag aon am faoi leith - ag cur na dtosaíochtaí éagsúla san áireamh mar is cuí.
Mar a fógraíodh, beidh €1m breise (idir chaipiteal agus Reatha) san áireamh i bhFomhír C3 de Vóta mo Roinne don chlár CTPT in 2022 de thoradh Buiséad 2022. Is ionann seo agus ciste ar fiú €11.2m in iomlán é do 2022.
Tá an t-ardú €1m comhdhéanta d'ardú €800k do chiste reatha an chláir agus €200k do chiste caipitil an chláir. Leanfar ag baint leasa as an gciste foriomlán chun cúram a dhéanamh de chur chun feidhme an raon bearta ábhartha a leagtar amach i bPlean Gníomhaíochta 2018-2022 an Rialtais don Ghaeilge.
Mar is iondúil ag an tráth seo bliana, beidh pleanáil chun tosaigh ar bun ag mo Roinn i dtreo cinntí a dhéanamh faoi chonas is fearr úsáid fhónta a bhaint as an gcistíocht bhreise ar leas fhorfheidhmiú na Straitéise 20-Bliain agus an Phlean Gníomhaíochta lena mbaineann.
410. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the person or body that will be eligible for the pilot basic income for artists proposed in budget 2022; when she expects the scheme to deliver funds to artists; and if she will publish the costings and workings upon which an allocation of €25 million for the pilot scheme are based. [50756/21]
View answer419. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if live performance workers that have had their supports cut by over 50% from 2021 in budget 2022 will be eligible for the pilot basic income for artists scheme promised in the same Budget. [50966/21]
View answer421. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason €25 million was selected for use in the pilot basic income for artists in budget 2022 before the proposed stakeholder forum takes place to discuss which artists and creative arts workers will be eligible; and if she will outline the objectives the scheme should have. [50968/21]
View answer425. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the work undertaken to date by the oversight group responsible for developing the pilot basic income for artists; the number of times the oversight group has met since being formed to discuss the pilot scheme; and if she will publish the minutes of their meetings. [50972/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 410, 419, 421 and 425 together.
The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector. These recommendations included a proposal to pilot a basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audio-visual and live performance and events sectors. I believe the delivery of this pilot will be key to underpinning the recovery in the arts and culture sector and will provide much needed certainty to the artists and creatives who choose to avail of the pilot scheme.
I was delighted that as part of Budget 2022 I secured €25m for a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for the arts and cultural sector. As Minister with responsibility for Arts and Culture, I am conscious of the value that this sector brings to all Irish citizens, which was particularly evident during the pandemic. The importance of Irish culture, Irish art and Irish productions as a whole cannot be understated in terms of its impact both internationally and at home. The Government recognises that bold steps are necessary for our much treasured arts, events and cultural community to come back stronger than ever before.
I established an Oversight Group to appraise the recommendations in the Life Worth Living report. Although the remit of the Oversight Group included the examination of all recommendations in the report, I asked that they prioritise the consideration of the Recommendation on a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists and arts workers as a priority.
The Oversight Group is chaired by my Department and joined by representatives of the Departments of Finance, Social Protection, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Directors of the Arts Council and Screen Ireland are also members alongside a representative of the County and City Managers Association.
The Oversight Group has met eight times to discuss the Basic Income pilot recommendation alongside the other nine recommendations. To assist in these discussions, the Oversight Group established a sub-committee to focus solely on the progression of the recommendation for the basic income pilot scheme. This sub-committee met nine times over the summer months to develop a number of options that could fulfill the requirements of a pilot scheme as set out in the Life Worth Living report.
The Oversight Group, with the research carried out by this sub-committee, has provided me with a preliminary report on the different options for a three year pilot scheme which I am currently considering.
A number of organisations have given presentations to the Oversight Committee in order to inform their considerations these include:
- the NCFA (the National Campaign for the Arts)
- Social Justice Ireland
- Praxis – the Artists Union
- Stephen Kinsella Economist in University Limerick who had done research in the area of artist basic income
In addition, Equity the actors union are due to present to the group this week.
This work is in addition to the policy development undertaken by my officials on this matter, including my Department's Strategic Policy Unit.
I envision that this pilot should launch in early 2022 and I believe it will bring new life and support to the Arts and Cultural Sector, after the difficult circumstances they have endured over the last year and a half.
I am happy to share the minutes of the Group's meetings with the Deputy and will publish these on my Department's website.
412. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil machnamh déanta aici ar na moltaí leagtha síos i mBuiséad Malartach Shinn Féin i dtaobh Athbheochan na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta, a foilsíodh an 11 Deireadh Fómhair, agus cén freagra atá aici ar na moltaí a cuireadh chun cinn ann, go háirithe an moladh maidir le Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge a thabhairt ar ais. [50759/21]
View answerIs sa Bhuiséad a fógraíodh an tseachtain seo caite, a leagadh amach tosaíocht an Rialtais maidir leis an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht do 2022.
Ag eascairt as Buiséad 2022, cuirfear cistíocht bhreise ar fáil ar leas foriomlán na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta. Seo a leanas coimriú ar na harduithe:
- Maoiniú breise reatha de €1.5m ar fáil d’Údarás na Gaeltachta.
- Ciste breise €1m ar fáil faoi Chlár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga mo Roinne (idir chaipiteal agus reatha);
- Ardú €2.3m ar fáil do mo Roinn le haghaidh a Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht;
- Cistíocht bhreise ar fiú €800,000 ar fáil chun tacú leis an bPóiseas Pleanála Teanga;
- €700,00 breise ar fáil ón Rialtas ó dheas don bhForas Teanga;
- Infheistíocht bhreise €4.2m ar fáil do TG4 mar léiriú ar a thábhacht do chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge.
- Acmhainní breise ar fáil don Roinn agus d’Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga araon in 2022 chun Acht na dTeangacha oifigiúla leasaithe a chur i bhfeidhm agus chun a chumasú don Choimisinéir a chuid córas monatóireachta a neartú.
Maidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, beidh €14.450m in airgead caipitil ar fáil don Údarás an bhliain seo chugainn, méadú de 60% ar an allúntas a bhí ag an eagraíocht in 2019. Mar is eol don Teachta, tugadh méadú suntasach breise don Údarás i mbliana le dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna a chruthaigh an phaindéim dá gcuid cliantchomhlachtaí. I mbliana, táthar ag deimhniú go bhfuil an t-airgead sin coinnithe ag an Údaráis – rud a dhéanfaidh difríocht ollmhór don eagraíocht agus iad ag pleanáil do na blianta amach romhainn.
Anuas air seo, beidh €1.5m breise in airgead reatha ag an Údarás in 2022. Tabharfaidh sé seo deis don Údarás tuilleadh airgid a chur i dtreo earnáil na turasóireachta sa Ghaeltacht – earnáil atá fós ag fulaingt de bharr na paindéime. Chomh maith leis sin, cuirfidh sé seo ar chumas an Údaráis tuilleadh airgid a chur i dtreo na gcomharchumann Gaeltachta – gréasán de struchtúir áitiúla a rinne obair den scoth le bliain go leith anuas le tacú le pobail faoi mhí-bhuntáiste i roinnt de na ceantair is iargúlta sa tír.
Ní áirítear sa bhfigiúr caipitil thuasluaite na deiseanna atá agus a bheidh ar fáil ag an Údarás chun leas a bhaint as cistí caipitil eile an státchiste.
Maidir leis an bhForas Teanga, cuireadh suim de €1.7m breise isteach sa bhuiséad Thuaidh/Theas i mbliana le hairgead New Decade, New Approach san aireamh. Ba mhéadú suntasach a bhí ann, an céad mhéadú ó 2016. Beidh an Roinn ag tógáil ar an dul chun cinn sin an bhliain seo chugainn leis an allúntas breise de €700,000 atá fógartha. Dár ndóigh, beidh sciar an Tuaiscirt le cur leis sin. Cuirfear tús anois le comhráití leis an Roinn Pobal ó thuaidh féachaint an bhfuil an sciar sin ar fáil. Ní thosaíonn bliain airgeadais an Tuaiscirt, dár ndóigh, go dtí Aibreán. Beidh sé tamaillín eile, dá bharr, sula mbeidh deimhniú againn go mbeidh an sciar sin ar fáil. É sin ráite, fiú mura mbeidh, is féidir a dheimhniú nach gcaillfear an t-airgead breise seo ó earnáil na Gaeilge.
Maidir leis an bproiséas pleanála teaga, tá arduithe á gcur ar fáil gach bliain don phróiseas ó cuireadh tús leis agus tá ardú eile ceadaithe do 2022. Táim sásta gur leor an t-ardú €800k,000 atá fógartha chun cúram a dhéanamh d’fheidhmiú an phróisis an bhliain seo chugainn.
Is gá a chur san áireamh chomh maith ar ndóigh go rachaidh an t-ardú €1m don Chlár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga (idir chaipiteal agus reatha) agus an ciste breise caipitil do thograí caiptil lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht ar leas an phróisis agus ar leas na Gaeilge chomh maith.
Maidir le hEarnáil na gColáistí Gaeilge tá céimeanna glachta chun cabhrú tuilleadh le hearnáil na gColáistí Gaeilge i mbliana. Tá i gceist ciste eile faoi leith a fhógairt go luath i mbliana ar leas na gcoláistí. Tiocfaidh sé seo ar shála an méid a d’fhógair mé roimhe seo ar leas lucht lóistín an chórais agus ar leas hallaí pobail na Gaeltachta.
Maidir le 2022 agus an earnáil, tá i gceist breathnú ar bheart nó dhó eile a chabhróidh tuilleadh le deiseanna freastal ar choláistí Gaeilge agus a bheidh ar leas na hearnála dá réir. Beidh an Roinn ag teacht chun cinn le moltaí sonracha faoi seo uile in am tráth agus leanfar ag féachaint chuige go mbaintear an tairbhe is fearr as an gciste ardaithe.
Is ar fheidhmiú leanúnach foriomlán an Phlean Gníomhaíochta don Ghaeilge 2018-2022 agus na Straitéise 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge a bheidh an clár oibre do 2022 dírithe. Leagtar amach sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta cad a dhéanfaidh gach ceann den c. 60 páirtí leasmhar chun cabhrú le cur chun feidhme an tuairim is 180 beart atá sa phlean. Mar a luaigh mé, leis an gciste breise a bheidh ar fáil an bhliain seo chugainn beifear in ann cabhrú tuilleadh le feidhmiú na mbearta sin. Tá i gceist an dara tuairisc ar chur i bhfeidhm an phlean a fhoilsiú go luath thar ceann an Rialtais. Leagfar amach ann an méid a rinne na páitrithe ar fad – mo Roinn san áireamh - maidir le feidhmiú an phlean ó mhí Iúil 2019 go dtí Nollaig 2020.
Maidir le cistíocht bhreise na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta go ginearálta, beidh mo Roinn ag breathnú ar cad go mba chóir a dhéanamh leis an gciste ardaithe chun go mbeifear in ann an leas is fearr is féidir a bhaint as sa bhliain atá romhainn.
413. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad é a tuairim faoi leasuithe 56 agus 57 a bhí molta ag Céim na Tuarascála ar Bhille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021, go háirithe i ndáil le tuarascáil a ullmhú maidir le conas dátheangachas a chinntiú i gcás lipéid agus pacáistiú táirgí i siopaí, mar atá déanta i gCeanada, agus an bhfuil sé i gceist aici aon tuarascáil den saghas sin a chur i dtoll a chéile agus a fhoilsiú. [50761/21]
View answerIs minic pacáistiú dátheangach pléite ag Céim an Choiste agus Céim na Tuarascála de Bhille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2019. Thug mé géar-éisteach don méid a bhí le rá ag Teachtaí an fhreasúra le linn na díospóireachta sin ar an ábhar. Ní mór a threisiú go dtiteann an t-ábhar seo taobh amuigh de scóip an Bhille agus mar sin, ní bheidh sé le cur san áireamh ann. Ní mór a rá freisin go bhfuil Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 infheidhme do comhlachtaí poiblí agus seirbhísí phoiblí amháin agus, mar sin, níl forálacha an Achta infheidhmithe do comhlachtaí príobháideacha.
Tá tiomantas tugtha i RÉIMSÍ GNÍMH 6.8– AN SAOL EACNAMAÍOCHTA de chuid na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 go bhfiosrófaí an fhéidearthacht cód deonach a thabhairt isteach do lipéadú agus do phacáistiú dátheangach i gcás gach earra a dhíoltar in Éirinn. D’fhéadfaí an gníomh sin a úsáid mar mheicníocht chun forbairt a dhéanamh ar raon na réimsí inar féidir le daoine Gaeilge a roghnú mar theanga tráchtála. Tá teagmháil déanta le mo Roinn freisin ag lucht eagair feachtais atá ar bun le lipéadú dátheangach ar phacáistí a chur chun cinn agus, táthar ag breathnú, dá bharr, ar an bhféidearthacht tabhairt faoi thaigde le sprioc 6.8 thuas a bhaint amach.
In Alt 2.8.1.2 de Phlean Gníomhaíochta Gaeilge an Rialtais 2018-2022, sonraítear go soláthróidh Foras na Gaeilge, i gcomhar le páirtithe ábhartha, raon bearta le tacaíochta a sholáthar d'úsáid na Gaeilge in earnáil an ghnó agus sa saol eacnamaíochta. Ar mhaithe leis an ngealltanas sin a chomhlíonadh, tá na tionscnaimh seo ar bun ag Foras na Gaeilge:
- Scéim tacaíochta maoinithe dírithe ar Fhiontair Bheaga agus Mheánmhéide: Scéim deontais í seo ina bhfuil maoiniú meaitseála oiread agus €3,000 ar fáil chun tacú le comharthaíocht, stáiseanóireacht, ábhair margaíochta chlóite, suíomhanna idirlín agus ábhair brandála eile a fhorbairt go gairmiúil i nGaeilge nó go dátheangach
- Pacáiste Acmhainní Tacaíochta do Ghnólachtaí: Tá 31 saináis tacaíochta don earnáil ghnó ar fáil saor in aisce ón gcóras féinordaithe. Mar chuid den phacáiste tacaíochta, tá rogha comharthaí féinghreamaithe, suaitheantais, bileoga agus earraí tacaíochta eile chun cur le hinfheictheacht na Gaeilge i dtimpeallacht ghnó
- Treoirleabhráin ar DheaChleachtais: Mar chuid de shraith foilseachán, foilsíodh dhá threoirleabhrán chun treoir phraiticiúil a thabhairt don earnáil gnó ar úsáid an dátheangachais: ‘Comharthaíocht Dhátheangach’ agus ‘Pacáistíocht Dhátheangach’.
Beidh an chéad treoirleabhrán eile dírithe ar úsáid an dátheangachais go leictreonach agus ar shuíomhanna idirlín.
414. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the form of assessment that took place of the value for money of the cost of applications submitted for funding under the live performance support scheme in 2021. [50762/21]
View answer417. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an analysis will be undertaken on the breakdown of live performance funding provided in 2021 to ascertain the percentage of the millions of euro allocated that reached artists, performers, crew, and event management companies respectively. [50935/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 417 together.
As part of suite of measures to support the live entertainment sector, I allocated €25m to the 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. The grants awarded are helping support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public.
The key objectives of the scheme included the provision of employment opportunities both for artists and crews to ensure ongoing cultural activity in non-subsidised venues. LPSS 2021 is currently supporting events across the entire country, with live performances and events happening in every county.
Once this scheme concludes, all grantees will be required to complete a questionnaire which will collect relevant data including:
- employment days generated;
- production costs, and;
- artistic output.
This data will be collated and used to underpin an evaluation of the scheme which will assist in the planning of future supports for the sector.
415. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason that types of live entertainment businesses deemed eligible for the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme has been restricted to businesses involved in music only, with no allowance for entertainers, such as dancers, magicians, comedians, circus performers and those working in the crew responsible for producing these forms of entertainment; her views on whether the description of the scheme is misleading in view of the fact that only music businesses may apply; and the supports that have been provided or will be provided to entertainment workers that have been and largely continue to be unable to work. [50933/21]
View answer416. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason that business costs were required of applicants to the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme and not for the Event Sector Covid Support Scheme. [50934/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.
I am acutely aware of the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the arts/culture and live entertainment sectors. To support the industry through this difficult period I have provided funding for a suite of measures designed to sustain and support live performance and employment opportunities in the sector.
As part of this suite of supports, an allocation of €25m was made available for the 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. This scheme builds on the successful pilot Live Performance Support Scheme in 2020, which provided thousands of days of employment to hundreds of actors, musicians, crew and technicians in tandem with a pipeline of high quality on-line much needed entertainment for Irish audiences. The grants awarded will help to support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres including theatre, music and circus performance.
The Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) was developed in consultation with the sector and the eligibility criteria aims to strike an appropriate balance having regard to other available supports and the need to reach as many professional musicians and crew as possible. Under this scheme, self-employed businesses including sound crew, musicians, singers, lighting and audio equipment suppliers operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector are eligible to apply.
The grants are intended to provide a contribution towards businesses costs which arise even if the business is not operating e.g. insurance, rent etc. Therefore, details of business costs were required to determine eligibility.
The initial phase of the MEBAS scheme closed for applications on 30 September and I was pleased to launch a second phase of this scheme on 4th October.
The Events Sector Covid Support Scheme is different in both scope and scale. It is aimed at SMEs in the events sector which are not 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. The eligibility for this scheme was based on demonstration of a loss of at least 75% of turnover during the time when Covid restrictions were in place relative to a businesses turnover in 2019, therefore business expenses were not relevant to the criteria of this scheme. Phase 2 of this scheme opened for applications on 7 October.
As part of Budget 2022 I have allocated €25m for continuing supports for the Live Entertainment Sector. This allocation will build on the supports provided by my Department during the pandemic. I will ensure that those funds are made available early in the new year and am confident that this funding will help drive employment opportunities and activity in the sector.
