Written Answers Nos. 217-230
217. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the innovative support schemes that have been developed since June 2020 for small local festivals, amateur dramatics and musicals; and the festivals and organisations that have benefited from every such scheme. [32169/22]
View answerPrimary funding for the arts is delivered through the Arts Council. Across its various funding schemes, the Arts Council supports more than 160 festivals annually. The Arts Council seeks to support festivals on a year-round basis and makes a significant contribution to both major festivals and to over 150 small festivals throughout the country through its festival investment scheme. The Council recognises the distinctive role arts festivals play in sustaining a vibrant and sustainable arts profile at local level. Festivals provide opportunities for artists and audiences to experience new work and ways of making work.
My Department operates a small-scale local festivals and summer schools funding scheme designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other essential Government moneys and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council or similar bodies.
In addition a number of local authorities support small-scale festivals, in some cases, under the all-of-Government Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022, led by my Department. Under its Creative Communities initiative, annual funding is provided to the 31 local authorities to enable them implement their individual Culture and Creativity Strategies 2018-2022, with €6.6 million provided in 2021. This funding also supports Cruinniú na nÓg, the national day of free creativity for children and young people.
Fáilte Ireland also provides supports for festivals and participative events that focus predominantly on internationally-motivating festivals/events from the point of view of inbound international tourism and bednights. Fáilte Ireland's 'Winter in Dublin' campaign was created to promote a specially curated programme of cultural events and experiences taking place in the capital throughout the Winter. Flagship events within the campaign - such as TradFest - promoted Irish musical talent at their core.
218. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the new bursary schemes that have been created since June 2020 to encourage the next generation of young artists. [32170/22]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the development of the arts rests with the Arts Council under the Arts Act 2003. It is important to remember that the Arts Council is independent in all decisions around funding, including who to fund and how to fund them. A key strategic priority of the Arts Council is a commitment to support emerging artists of promise and all artists – creative and interpretive – whose quality of practice merits investment.
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. Since then, the Arts Council introduced new and enhanced funding programmes of commissions and bursaries. The 2021 budget allocation to the Arts Council increased to €130 million. In 2021 the Arts Council had over 8,000 applications.
I understand that the Council expanded the bursary scheme across all art forms in both number and value in 2021. The number awarded increased from 170 in 2019 to 577 in 2021 (+239%) and the value of the awards increased from €1.8 million in 2019 to €9.3 million in 2021 (+412%). Particularly notable within this overall trend was an increase in funding for Literature from €366,084 to €1.8 million, Music from €127,775 to €1.4 million, and Traditional Arts from €30,410 to €531,158.
Details of 2022 bursaries' schemes can be accessed on the Arts Council's available funding page via this link www.artscouncil.ie/available-funding/
A report and analysis of the Arts Council’s response to the Covid-19 crisis for the arts in 2020/2021 was published by the Council and can be accessed at this link: www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/wwwartscouncilie/Content/Publications/Research_reports/Our%20Covid%20Response%20(July%202021).pdf.
The Arts Council supports artists in Ireland through grant funding, project awards and supports to individual artists by way of commissions and bursaries. The Next Generation Artists Award were first introduced to mark the 1916 centenary. The purpose of the Award is to support promising artists across all disciplines at an early but pivotal stage in their career - providing support for emerging artists from all backgrounds and genres with an opportunity to develop their skills and produce new work. Further details of the 2022 award including criteria and guidelines can be accessed at the following link www.artscouncil.ie/Funds/Next-Generation-Artists-Award/. In addition art organisations funded by the Council regularly engage in support of emerging artists and fostering of excellence in local contexts.
In addition to measures funded by the Arts Council, the Deputy will be aware of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme. The overarching objective of this scheme is to address the earnings instability that can be associated with the intermittent, periodic, and often project-based nature of work in the arts. The scheme will research the impact on artists and creative arts workers creative practice of providing the security of a basic income, thereby reducing income precarity.
The following categories of applicants were eligible:
- Practising artists;
- Creative arts workers (see definition below), or;
- Recently trained applicants (within the last 5 years).
The key eligibility criteria is that applicants must either be an artist with their own creative practice or a creative arts worker who has a creative practice of their own which makes a key contribution to the production, interpretation or exhibition of the arts. The Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme will run over a three year period (2022 – 2025). Applications for the scheme closed on May 12th and the scheme was open to eligible artists and creative arts sector workers.
Culture Ireland also operates a range of funding programmes to support and promote the presentation of Irish arts internationally, including emerging artists.
In addition to direct funding from my Department and the Arts Council, RTÉ routinely offers new and emerging talent opportunities across all of its platforms including television, radio and online. It has also collaborated with the Creative Ireland programme in conjunction with its RTÉ Supporting the Arts initiative to highlight a broad range of cultural activity.
219. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress that has taken place on the creation of a new National Town of Culture competition; the consideration given thus far to the idea including details on any meetings or consultations that have taken place on the matter since June 2020; and when a decision will be taken on the idea. [32171/22]
View answerIn the past eight years, Ireland has delivered two successful Capitals of Culture in two different sets of circumstances – Limerick 2014 inaugural Irish City of Culture and Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture during an international public health crisis.
At present, my Department is considering the outcomes from Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture, as set out in the independent evaluation of the project published at the end of last year, while also supporting Galway to develop an impactful and long-term legacy framework arising from its Capital of Culture designation. The learnings from these processes will inform consideration of the creation of a new National Town of Culture competition.
220. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the additional supports that have been given to local authorities to allow the fulfilment of long-term strategic cultural and arts planning. [32172/22]
View answerUnder Section 6 of the Arts Act 2003, local authorities are required to prepare and implement plans for the development of the arts within their functional areas. My Department provides a range of supports to local authorities in respect of artistic, cultural and creative programmes and measures in place in local authorities.
Creative Ireland was launched in 2017 as an all-of-Government culture and wellbeing programme committed to the vision that every person should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential. Established as a legacy initiative of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, Creative Ireland collaborates across Government and with arts, community and voluntary organisations to deploy creativity as a strategy for wellbeing, social cohesion and economic success. Alongside its very successful Creative Youth initiative, the programme’s Creative Communities partnership with the 31 local authorities, and their delivery of thousands of creative projects, has been key to enabling community-led nationwide engagement.
Through the Creative Communities initiative in the Creative Ireland Programme, I have significantly increased the funding provided to local authorities for implementation of their Culture and Creativity Strategies from just over €3 million in 2018 to an allocation of €6.3 million in 2022. This funding supported additional community-led initiatives including in relation to children and young people, health & wellbeing of older people, economic development and climate action. In February 2022, Government agreed in principle that the Creative Ireland Programme, including its Creative Communities initiative, will continue for a further five years encompassing the period 2023-2027. Throughout 2022, the 31 local authorities are developing, through public consultation, new 5 year Culture and Creativity Strategies to enable the delivery of community-led creative projects and initiatives. The Government has agreed to extend the Creative Ireland Programme to 2027.
My role as Minister with responsibility for leading the co-ordination of the Decade of Centenaries Programme (2012-2023) is to help ensure that the challenging events of this important and formative period in our history and related themes, are meaningfully, proportionately and sensitively remembered. Last December, I announced funding of €2 million for local authorities in 2022, to support their leading role in developing community-led commemorative activities, for the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries Programme.
The Arts Council’s Framework for Collaboration Agreement with the County and City Management Association (CCMA) is critical to the success of many of the Arts Council initiatives. Much of these have been achieved in this respect with an Arts Service in each of the principal local authorities in the country. Similarly, a long-term partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta on our Ealaín na Gaeltachta programme has resulted in a significant level of arts development in Gaeltacht areas.
Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres are initiated and funded by local authorities. Support provided to arts facilities by local authorities and the Arts Council is critical to ensuring that a stable and vibrant network can be maintained. Such facilities are also supported through small capital grant schemes operated by my Department.
In response to Covid-19, capital funding towards the pilot Outdoor Public Space Scheme 2021 by my Department is intended to fund local authorities to adapt, equip or otherwise improve public spaces for cultural and events activities, taking account of public health guidelines and of the needs of the local arts community. Outdoor public spaces that can provide year-round use can improve well-being and contribute positively to the public realm.
In addition, significant funding has been provided by my Department in 2021 and 2022 for the Local Live Performance Support Scheme.
221. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of schools that remain without access to Creative Schools, and a timeline for the expansion of same to all schools. [32173/22]
View answerThe Creative Youth Plan was published by the Government in December 2017 as one of the five pillars of the Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022. 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.
Commenced in 2018, Creative Schools is one of the flagship initiatives of the Creative Youth Plan and supports schools and Youthreach centres to put the arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives. It is led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
The Creative Schools initiative supports schools over 2 years to develop and implement a bespoke Creative Schools Plan, with the assistance of a Creative Associate in addition to a grant of €4,000 in total to implement their plan. A national spread of primary, post-primary, special, DEIS, Irish language medium schools, and Youthreach centres are represented in the initiative.
Access to the Creative Schools initiative is open to all Department of Education-recognised primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres. Currently schools cannot re-enter the initiative once they have participated, thereby encouraging the inclusion of new schools each year.
In the four rounds from 2018 to 2021, a total number of 1,168 schools have applied to participate in Creative Schools with over 650 schools invited to participate. 2021 saw an expansion in the number of new schools participating compared to 2020. There are currently 350 schools participating in the initiative, and applications for the fifth round commencing in September 2022 closed on the 16th June 2022 and are currently being assessed.
This year will see the initiative expand to work with Oberstown Children Detention Campus School, Ballydowd High Support Special School, Crannóg Nua Special School and St Canice’s Special School. These schools have been invited to take part in the initiative and will receive increased Creative Associate time and funding with a total award of €8,000 over two years.
222. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide details of any meetings that have taken place between her Department and the Department of Education to secure the future of Creative Schools since June 2020. [32174/22]
View answerThe Creative Youth Plan was published by the Government in December 2017 as one of the five pillars of the Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022. 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. Details on the many creative programmes for children and young people supported by Creative Youth are available from the Creative Ireland Programme website.
Implementation of the Creative Youth 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, facilitated through an Inter-departmental Creative Youth Working Group. The Working Group has met 13 times since June 2020 to discuss all matters pertaining to the Creative Youth Plan.
Commenced in September 2018, Creative Schools is one of the flagship in-school initiatives of the Creative Youth Plan. Creative Schools supports schools over 2 years to develop and implement a bespoke Creative Schools Plan, with the assistance of a Creative Associate in addition to a grant of €4,000 in total over the two years. To date more than 650 schools were invited to participate in four rounds of the initiative. Applications for the fifth round of Creative Schools closed on the 16th June 2022 and successful schools will enter the programme in September 2022 until 2024.
The Inter-departmental Creative Youth Working Group is currently working to develop a new Creative Youth Plan for the period 2023-2027. With the addition of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Working Group is engaging regularly to progress this work incorporating wide-ranging consultations with key sectoral organisations and representative bodies including teachers and school boards, as well as a consultation with children and youth facilitated by Hub na nÓg. The Working Group will consider the findings of these consultations alongside an evaluation of the Creative Schools initiative that is also currently underway as it seeks to finalise a new 5-year Creative Youth Plan during 2022.
223. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she intends to establish the night-time culture mayors proposed for Dublin and Cork; if she will confirm that the examination into the establishment of local committees in other urban areas to improve night-time culture has taken place and when she intends to establish such committees. [32176/22]
View answerThe Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce was published in September 2021 and it contained 36 practical recommendations in the areas of regulation, licensing, planning, transport, safety and increasing the diversity of activities as part of the night-time offering.
Following consideration of the establishment of Night-Time Culture Mayors in Dublin and Cork by the Taskforce as per the Taskforce's Terms of Reference, Action 19 was agreed. This Action within the Report calls for a pilot initiative to establish new "Night-Time Advisors" in six cities and towns to develop new Night-Time Economy opportunities. Establishment of Night-Time Advisors in Dublin and Cork will be considered within this context.
The County and City Management Association (CCMA) are leading on this initiative with support from my Department. The pilot will run for a two year period and the CCMA recently issued a call for applications to all local authorities for the six pilot towns/cities which will close on the 24th June. An evaluation committee with membership from the CCMA, my Department and an external independent member will review applications.
Once appointed, the Night-Time Advisor will establish a Night-Time Economy Committee which will consist of artists, cultural facilities, event promoters, festival organisers, hospitality interests, local champions, public bodies, retailers and other businesses, residents, venue owners/operators. The Advisor will ensure that all existing local structures are assessed to ensure synergies are developed where possible and that duplication of effort is avoided.
A key element of this initiative will also include an extensive consultation process led by the Advisor, who will engage the local community in the process of developing ideas for the NTE in their own locality. The Advisor will develop a cohesive action plan for the specific town/city and it will contain key deliverables, including a range of proven interventions and the identification of potential funding streams to support the NTE in the chosen cities/towns.
The learning from these pilot projects will be shared with the CCMA who, in consultation with other key stakeholders including my Department and others can then form a view on the future of the initiative and whether it should be extended to other areas.
I look forward to the establishment and work of the Night-Time advisors, as it will be another significant step towards securing a vibrant and importantly a more sustainable night-time culture for all our citizens.
224. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the examination that has taken place into agent of change initiatives and if it is her intention to develop a policy on such initiatives. [32177/22]
View answerA commitment to examine the 'Agent of Change' initiatives whereby existing cultural spaces have to be taken into account when new building is taking place is included in the Programme for Government. The issue also arose during the consultation phase of the work of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce in the context of effective noise management and a recommendation to examine this issue was included in the final Report. My Department is leading on this but it also involves consultation with and input from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
In this context, I recently co-chaired a Night-Time Economy Workshop with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address challenges relating to planning and regulation for those operating in the Night-Time Economy and discussions took place regarding the Agent of Change and the various issues involved. A report on the workshop is being prepared and will be submitted to the Night-Time Economy Implementation Group for consideration and action.
226. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the examination that has taken place into the possibility of annual State commemorations for figures with significant positive contributions to Irish culture and heritage. [32180/22]
View answerMy Department has considered this matter in the context of the most recent Decade of Centenaries Programmes and has informally consulted with the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations. This is a sensitive and complex issue, which merits careful consideration. The challenge for the State in identifying specific individuals for remembrance with an annual State-led commemoration is particularly complex. As the Deputy will appreciate, this is a very personal matter for the family members of individuals who may be considered for remembrance in this way and any attempt at identifying these individuals could risk undermining the inclusive nature of the State’s approach to commemorating the Decade of Centenaries to date.
Currently the view is that such matters are best left to local authorities and other partners, who have autonomy to develop commemorative initiatives that help us look objectively at the events of our past in a non-judgemental way and provide authentic opportunities for engagement and remembrance. I have provided funding of almost €2m to support local authorities in driving community-led commemoration this year. There is scope for a rich diversity of interesting and engaging commemorative initiatives to be curated from within this allocation. Each local authority is best placed to determine what is appropriate for their local area, in light of local history and expertise, and to make decisions concerning initiatives to be supported, including remembrance of figures of local significance where this is deemed appropriate. My Department advises that all initiatives should be aligned with the principles and guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations, and has provided comprehensive guidance for the allocation of funding to assist local authorities.
Many figures and groups who have made positive contributions to all aspects of Irish life have been remembered throughout the Decade of Centenaries. This will continue to be the case without the need for annual State-led commemorations. It may be noted also that the Second Statement of Principles of the EAG (published in 2017) highlights the ‘danger of excessive official commemoration, which would not be practically or economically feasible. Not everything to do with this Decade can be commemorated at State level’.
227. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she or her officials have met directly with either the President and or the Director General of a sporting organisation (details supplied) to date in 2022. [32224/22]
View answerI can confirm that on 27 January 2022, an Assistant Secretary in my Department met with the Director General of the sporting organisation to which the Deputy refers.
On 22 March 2022, I met with the President and the Director General of the sporting organisation. My Adviser and an Assistant Secretary in my Department also attended that meeting.
228. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of her engagement with a club (details supplied) in relation to an agreement; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32387/22]
View answerThe Sports Capital & Equipment Programme (SCEP) is operated by my Department and provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.1 billion.
The club referred to by the Deputy has received SCEP funding totalling €186,200 over a number of years. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the SCEP and due to the level of grants received by the club in the past, a Deed of Covenant and Charge is in place in order to protect the public investment in the facility.
As is the normal course of action in such cases the advice of the Chief State Solicitor’s Office has been sought. Once guidance has been obtained from the CSSO there will be no undue delay on my Department's part in following up on the club’s request. In the interim, a response has issued to the club updating it with the latest position.
229. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has received an annual report and financial statements in respect of either 2020 or 2021 from Údarás na Gaeltachta; when she expects the reports to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32467/22]
View answerThe Annual Report and Accounts for 2020 for Údarás na Gaeltachta are available on Udaras.ie and Oireachtas.ie.
The Annual Report and Accounts for 2021 will not be published until later in the year following completion of its annual audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. It should be noted, however, that the draft Financial Statements for 2021 were submitted to my Department in February 2022 and the End of Year Statement was published in January 2022.
230. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of applications received from eligible applicants in respect of the basic income for artists pilot scheme; when the first payment will be made under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32468/22]
View answerDemand for the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme has been very strong with just over 9,000 applications received by the closing date of May 12th.
I am very encouraged by the level of interest from artists and creative arts workers interested in participating in the pilot scheme. Assessment of the applications has begun and this process will take at least 6-8 weeks given the high volume of applications. Once assessed for eligibility, all eligible applicants will be entered into an anonymised random sampling process to choose the 2,000 scheme participants. I expect payments to commence during Q3 depending on the length of time it takes to complete the eligibility checks, selection process and return of grant documentation from successful applicants.
I am delighted that over 9,000 artists and creative arts workers were willing to participate in this innovative research project. This heralds a new approach to the way the State funds and recognises her artists and I look forward to seeing the data and findings of the research during the pilot.
