Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 May 2022
6. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to ensure that the supports offered under the live performance support scheme 4 are being distributed as quickly as possible to prevent the permanent closure of venues. [22151/22]
View answerThe Minister is very aware of the main challenges faced by the arts, culture and live entertainment industry during the pandemic. While the live performance sector welcomes the Minister's support, a major issue has been the rate at which funds are being distributed to venues. Will the Minister of State outline the actions taken to ensure the live performance restart grant scheme is being distributed as quickly as possible to prevent the permanent closure of venues?
Throughout the pandemic we have been very cognisant of the challenges the restrictions caused for the arts, culture and live entertainment industry and the Government remains committed to the live entertainment sector as the industry recovers following the lifting of all restrictions in January. To this end, more than €50 million has been provided in a suite of supports for the live performance sector in 2022. This includes €4 million for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme, specifically to support small music and entertainment businesses which do not operate out of a rateable premises. A total of €20 million was allocated in the third strand of the live performance support scheme to support events which were due to be staged in December 2021 and January 2022 and were curtailed, cancelled or rescheduled due to the restrictions. A total of €5 million was allocated to the second strand of the live performance support scheme to support pantomime and seasonal musical theatre impacted by the Covid restrictions in place in December and January. There is €5 million for local authorities to support local artists and performances through the local live performance programming scheme. There is €5 million to continue the capital supports scheme to venues, including for ventilation upgrades and other Covid adaptations. This scheme is open for applications until 31 May 2022. There was also €1 million for the St. Patrick's Festival 2022.
A total of €15 million has been allocated for the live performance restart grant scheme. This will provide a new grant for businesses engaged in staging live events in the arts and culture live performance sector. The scheme aims to help underpin the recovery of the live performance sector by providing business restart grants to successful applicants as a support to de-risk the planning of events across spring and summer of 2022. Grants of up to €100,000 will be available to eligible businesses under the scheme. This scheme closed for application at 1 p.m. on 20 April with 210 applications submitted. Applications are being assessed and to date grants totalling €6.5 million have already been offered to 79 applicants under the scheme. Assessments are ongoing and decisions will continue to issue on a rolling basis. The payments process will commence shortly and payments will continue to issue on a weekly basis as grantees submit their documentation and payment requests.
I thank the Minister of State for the response. The specific issue is on when the much needed funding is allocated. While everyone welcomes any support for this hard-pressed sector there seems to be misalignment between the demands of the live performance sector and the manner in which the Department operates. There are many great venues in my constituency in Cork South West, such as Levis's Corner Bar in Ballydehob, De Barra's in Clonakilty and Connolly's of Leap. These types of venues need months to plan in advance to secure acts, crews and equipment. Any scheme to support spring and summer events should have been distributed months ago. It is extremely disheartening and frustrating for venues and performers because a scheme that is supposed to buffer against uncertainty and additional costs is becoming a source of uncertainty and stress. The sector needs to have this funding in bank accounts as soon as possible. Will the Minister of State please clarify whether there is a date by which these funds have to be spent? Originally this was cited as June, which is unfeasible at this stage.
I thank Deputy Cairns. I appreciate what she has outlined and the businesses that require support in her constituency in Cork South West. As I referenced in my initial response, the drawdown will happen. The payment process for the scheme will commence shortly and I appreciate the need for it. Payments will issue on a rolling basis as grantees submit their documentation. All payment requests will be dealt with without delay. I will revert to the Deputy on the question of when it needs to be paid by.
I would appreciate the Minister of State's reply and I thank him. I hope he can appreciate the frustration of the sector. Measures were first mentioned in the budget and launched separately but applications are starting months later and the funding is later again. The timely delivery of these supports would make a massive difference in ensuring the viability of so many venues. As well as the restrictions and hardships of the past two years, small and medium-sized venues are facing increased costs especially in rural areas. The cost of living crisis impacting families is also being felt by arts and hospitality businesses. In particular local employers in these sectors highlight the rise in energy and insurance expenses to me. While these issues are not directly in the Minister's portfolio, they are major concerns for all in the arts and hospitality sectors. Will the Minister of State outline the engagement of the Minister with other Ministers on insurance and energy costs?
I welcome the funding but I must agree with previous speakers. We were all delighted at Christmas when the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, announced funding for the pantomimes. Many had to be cancelled at short notice because of Covid. We have an excellent company in Carlow, Striking Productions. It had to cancel all of its shows, which had been booked out. I met the Minister. A portal was opened for the company to apply for funding. Striking Productions still has not received its funding. I am trying to contact the Department and the local authority to see who pays it. This is unacceptable. It is now May. This excellent group had sold out all of its shows. It owes a lot of money to people it had hired and cannot pay them. Will the Minister of State confirm whether the payment is through the local authority or the Department? There is confusion between the two. The group needs to be paid.
I thank the Deputies for their questions. I am taking these questions on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, this morning. I will ask her to revert on her engagement on insurance and other matters with the respective Departments. I know Deputy Murnane O'Connor's strong advocacy for Carlow and all things in many areas in Carlow. I appreciate what she has said relating to the pantomime business. The latest position is that payments will be made shortly. A total of 210 applications have been submitted. They are being assessed and to date grants totalling €6.5 million have already been offered to 79 applicants under the scheme. I will ask the Minister to revert to the Deputy on the specific local issue to make sure it is resolved.
