Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2021
79. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the main policy achievements and initiatives undertaken by her Department during 2021; and her main priorities for 2022. [62203/21]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to his Dáil Question No. 276 of 17 June last, in which I set out the range of activities and achievements undertaken by my Department across it's remit in its first year of operation.
Since then, Minister Chambers and I have continued to make significant progress across all areas of our Department's brief, supporting individual and community well-being and addressing the sectoral impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic. In the course of this work we have announced many initiatives and policy achievements including:
- Publication of the report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce as one of the priority actions and commitment in the Programme for Government.
- €50m in funding for a suite of measures to support the Live Performance Sector
- €11.5m COVID Support Scheme for the events sector
- €2 million Creative Climate Action Fund
- €2 million funding from Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts globally in 2022
- €147k in funding for cross-border cultural projects under Cooperation with Northern Ireland Scheme 2021
- €3m for the Higher Education Authority to be allocated to Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge to enable them to continue to provide a range of courses through the medium of Irish in Gaoth Dobhair, Carna and An Cheathrú Rua.
- Special assistance for Irish Language Summer Colleges
- €16.6m provided for sports equipment under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme
- Publication of the Sports Action Plan 2021 - 2023 which includes:
- A “Sport for All” approach to tackle barriers to participation and establishing an Inclusion, Diversity and Equality Fund and a Disability Sport fund
- The development of a new annual Winter Initiative campaign to encourage recovery of membership and participation in sports clubs and enhance the sports sector’s recovery from COVID-19
- The implementation of Sport Ireland’s High Performance strategy 2021-2032
In addition to these measures, significant progress has been made in developing the Pilot Basic Income Guarantee Scheme for Artists, which is the subject of a stakeholder consultation today, and the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill which completed its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas today.
My Department's strategic priorities and medium term priorities and objectives are set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, published in August this year, which is available here.
I am pleased that Budget 2022 includes strong supports for the sectors under the remit of my Department which will enable my Department to further deliver on its programme of work. Among the measures included in Budget 2022 are :
- €50m for Tourism Business Continuity Supports, assisting business’ survival and recovery
- €35m enhanced Tourism Marketing funding, accelerating the return of International Tourism to Ireland
- €27m increased investment in domestic tourism initiatives, including festivals, events, as well as initiatives in skills development and staff retention
- Arts Council funding maintained at record level of €130m
- €25m to pilot a Basic Income Guarantee Scheme for Artists
- €25m funding for further supports for live entertainment
- An additional €7m package for Irish Language plus €4.2m extra for Irish language broadcasting
- Sport Ireland allocated €105.81m to support development and participation all over Ireland
- €5.5m to establish the new Media Commission, including an Online Safety Commissioner
As I have previously advised the Deputy information in relation to policy announcements, consultations and schemes is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media/
