Written Answers Nos. 41-60
41. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she will take to ensure the National Sports Campus, Sport Ireland, and NGBs which seek State funding are prioritising climate action and reduction in their carbon emissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32258/22]
View answerMy Department has a critical role to play in ensuring that the transition to a lower carbon economy fosters creativity, expands the possibilities for people visiting and living here to engage with nature, and that social and economic sustainability are at the heart of all future development in our sectors. We are doing this through a programme of specific actions under the Climate Action Plan that will ensure sustainable practises are adopted across all of our sectors.
Under the Climate Action Plan, Sport Ireland is supporting Leave No Trace, which is an Outdoor Ethics Education Programme designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships which will help to improve our outdoor recreation facilities and provide new opportunities for people to connect with nature. This action will be enhanced in 2023, when Sport Ireland will launch its interactive map of outdoor sports facilities.
Sport Ireland is currently undertaking a research project to map the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 to the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, in order to capture and highlight the contribution of the National Sports Policy towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Sport Ireland expects to complete this project later in 2022. The GAA’s Green Clubs Programme has been recognised as a Sustainable Development Goals Champions Programme.
Sport Ireland is also developing a comprehensive sustainability strategy for the National Sports Campus which will enable the campus to become an exemplar for sustainability.
The Department is currently developing a new Major Sports Events Policy, which was recently the subject of a public consultation process. The policy is still in development and it is envisaged that improving the sustainability of major sports events and exploring the use of high profile events as platforms to promote sustainability will form part of that policy development process.
Capital funding for energy efficiency measures is provided as part of the Department’s Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). A review of the SCEP is underway and consideration is being given to expanding those sustainability supports under future rounds of the Programme.
42. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide details on her engagement with Government colleagues regarding recruitment and retention challenges in the tourism sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32184/22]
View answer47. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the measures that are in place to meet labour supply and skills requirements in the tourism sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32267/22]
View answer64. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has assessed the adequacy of manpower policies for the tourism sector. [32200/22]
View answer71. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the engagement her Department has had with other Government Departments and agencies to address challenges in the recruitment and retention of staff in the tourism sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32187/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 46, 47, 64 and 71 together.
Prior to Covid, the tourism sector had registered consistent increases in the numbers employed in Ireland’s regions and was an important driver of greater regional balance and dispersed economic activity.
Today, however, the sector faces a range of challenges, in common with the wider economy, such as sizable increases in the costs of key inputs and difficulty in recruiting and retaining key skills. These challenges are not unique to Ireland; indeed, they are shared by many countries around the world.
The wider tourism and hospitality sector is a shared concern for both my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). This shared mission is reflected in the Hospitality and Tourism Forum, which was established during the pandemic and is co-chaired by the Tánaiste and myself. The Forum is a valuable opportunity for both sectors to communicate their priorities and the Forum will meet again shortly. At official level, my Department engages regularly with our counterparts in DETE on issues such as work permits and other matters impacting tourism and hospitality.
My Department is also represented on the Tourism and Hospitality Careers Oversight Group, which brings together industry representatives, state agencies, Government Departments and the education sector. The Group has pivoted to focus on supporting the industry to address some of its immediate recruitment challenges in the months ahead.
The Department and Fáilte Ireland are working with industry and across Government Departments to ensure a co-ordinated approach to addressing the labour and skills shortages.
My Department also continues to engage with the Department of Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science regarding the Tourism Recovery Taskforce’s Recommendations on enhancing sustainable employment.
As part of the drive to promote tourism as an attractive sector within which to work, Fáilte Ireland is developing a new “Excellent Employer” programme to help all participating businesses to improve their employer practices and build their reputation as excellent employers. It has also launched a Transition Year Work Placement Programme and a major recruitment awareness campaign called “Works For Me”.
When we look at the wider economy and the particular set of challenges facing the tourism industry it is clear that a collective and concerted multi-stakeholder approach to tackling these challenges is required and that is the approach that my Department and I will continue to pursue.
43. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department’s strategy to promote Ireland as a tourist destination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32427/22]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of developing national tourism policy and the tourism agencies (Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland) deal with the implementation of this policy. Tourism Ireland is the agency responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a tourism destination.
The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Tourism Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
44. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceisteanna Parlaiminte 22177/22 agus 10318/22, soiléiriú a thabhairt ar stádas an tríú gné den obair athbhreithniúcháin atá idir lámha ag Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir leis na córais agus maidir leis an gcur chuige atá i ngníomh ag an Údarás faoi láthair chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliantchuideachtaí agus ar na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riaradh. [32228/22]
View answerTá tugtha le fios ag Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil an obair atá i gceist maidir le heagrú an tríú céim den taighde seo fós idir lámha ag an Údarás agus táthar fós ag súil, mar a bhí tugtha le fios roimhe seo, go mbeidh an taighde críochnaithe go hiomlán faoi dheireadh an fhómhair.
Mar is eol don Teachta, agus ceisteanna faoin ábhar seo á bhfreagairt faoin ábhar seo le gairid, tá taighde breise á dhéanamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ar riachtanais na bhfostaithe sna cliantchomhlachtaí ó thaobh chothú na Gaeilge de. Beidh sonraí an taighde sin á n-áireamh ag an Údarás ina chur chuige i leith na dtacaíochtaí a chuirtear ar fáil do na cliantchomhlachtaí le tacú leo an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa ghnó.
45. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to ensure that the culture, arts, sports and media elements of her portfolio are adequately developed and expanded to meet current and future needs with consequent benefit for the economy, if any particular one of these sectors requires further attention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32191/22]
View answerAs I advised the House in reply to Parliamentary question No. 73 of 24th of February last, my Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 published in August 2021, sets out the actions that my Department will take over the coming period to enrich the quality of life in Ireland through supporting the development of tourism, culture, arts, sports, media and Irish language.
These sectors are all of immense value to the citizens of this country not just from a social and community wellbeing perspective but also through their economic value to Ireland and indeed the cultural importance of the language and Gaeltacht areas of the country.
My Department engages with the stakeholders across these areas to meet the any ongoing and emerging challenges arising in those sectors.
The Deputy may also wish to refer to the opening statements made by myself and Minister of State Jack Chambers, at our recent meeting the Joint Oireachtas Committee Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media in relation to the work of my Department. These can be found here and here.
48. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to provide additional supports to assist local authorities to meet demand for playing pitches in their areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32413/22]
View answerIn relation to my Department's responsibilities, two schemes provide capital grant assistance for the development and improvement of sports facilities including playing pitches provided by Local Authorities.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted.
Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August, 2021.
The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022.
Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision. The deadline for submission of capital appeals was Monday 4 April and 146 appeals were received. The assessment of all appeals is complete and the consequent allocations amounting to €6.1 million were announced on Tuesday 31 May.
The total allocation of €150 million for capital sports projects represented the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP with a significant number of local authority led projects benefiting. Details of all allocations including those to local authorities can be found at www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/.
The priority in the short term is to advance the 2,895 successful applications under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage which requires detailed engagement with all grantees. Now that the appeal process is complete, my Department will also undertake a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP and any recommendations arising will be reflected in the terms and conditions of the next round. The precise timing of this next round of the Programme will be announced once this review is complete.
Funding is also provided by my Department for sports facilities under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), designed for projects where the grant sought is greater than the maximum available under the SCEP. The LSSIF was launched in 2018 and the first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. The projects that received provisional allocations and the amounts provisionally awarded to them are published on the Department's website.
While the priority in the short term is to advance all of the projects that were allocated funding, as it is now over two years since the first allocations were made, and in view of the issues faced by grantees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects allocated grants. My Department has now met with all successful grantees and work is at an advanced stage in drafting the review. Once the review is complete the scope for awarding any additional grants, adjusting the level of existing grants and the timing of any new call for proposals will be considered.
49. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán faoina tuairimí faoi na deacrachtaí leanúnacha in earnáil na foilsitheoireachta Gaeilge, na pleananna atá aici le dul i ngleic leis na deacrachtaí sin agus an mbeidh athbhreithniú ar an leibhéal maoiniúcháin le haghaidh na bpleananna sin, Scéim na Foilsitheoireachta Gaeilge san áireamh. [32206/22]
View answerAistríodh feidhmeanna Bhord na Leabhar Gaeilge chuig Foras na Gaeilge ar 1 Eanáir 2008. Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge a tugadh feasta ar an Scéim a riartar faoi scáth Fhoras na Gaeilge, scéim a chuireann tacaíocht ar fáil do scríbhneoirí, d’fhoilsitheoirí agus do phobal léitheoireachta na Gaeilge i gcoitinne.
Cuireann mo Roinn maoiniú imfhálaithe de €1.061m in aghaidh na bliana ar fáil do Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge, faoina bhfeidhmítear na scéimeanna agus tionscadail seo a leanas:
- Scéim na Foilsitheoireachta: Saothair ar ard-chaighdeán curtha ar fáil don phobal agus do léitheoirí Gaeilge;
- Scéim na dTionscadal Litríochta: Deiseanna léitheoireachta trí Ghaeilge a chothú agus a éascú don phobal;
- Scéim na gCoimisiún: Ciste coimisiúnaithe ar mhaithe le soláthar sásúil sna réimsí éagsúla léitheoireachta a chinntiú;
- An Scéim Meantóireachta: Spreagadh agus deiseanna tacaíochta a thabhairt do scríbhneoirí i dtús a ré scríbhneoireachta; agus,
- Scríobh Leabhar: Deiseanna scríbhneoireachta agus léitheoireachta trí Ghaeilge a chothú do pháistí scoile.
Aithnítear go bhfuil dúshláin roimh fhoilsitheoirí na Gaeilge faoi láthair agus reáchtáladh cruinniú an tseachtain seo caite idir feidhmeannaigh mo Roinne agus feidhmeannaigh Fhoras na Gaeilge chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé. Mar aitheantas ar na dúshláin sin, chuir mé maoiniú breise aon uaire de €300,000 ar fáil do Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge ag deireadh 2021 le dáileadh ar Scéim na Foilsitheoireachta agus Scéim na Meantóirí de chuid Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge.
Leanfaidh mo Roinn agus Foras na Gaeilge ag breithniú na roghanna agus deiseanna chun tacú tuilleadh le foilsitheoirí na Gaeilge san am amach romhainn.
50. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on plans to develop the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32424/22]
View answerThe redevelopment of the National Concert Hall has been included as a flagship project in my Department's Project Ireland 2040 - investment programme to renew, redevelop and future-proof our National Cultural Institutions. It remains a commitment under our Programme for Government and has been reconfirmed in the revised National Development Plan published last year.
The vision for this project is to transform the National Concert Hall into a world-renowned music destination that will serve as Ireland’s home for music, that will be accessible to all, and that will enrich the cultural landscape of Ireland. Additionally, the project will see the protection of a valuable heritage asset at the heart of our capital city for generations to come. In recognition of the long history of this site as a centre of learning, the proposed redevelopment builds and expands on the role of the National Concert Hall in promoting learning and participation in music.
The project is being developed as a joint initiative between the National Concert Hall, the Office of Public Works and my Department in compliance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code, Capital Works Management Framework and other central guidance. The goals of the redevelopment include:
- Increasing public access to musical performances and programmes
- Contributing to environmental sustainability
- Enhancing, integrating and protecting the historic buildings at Earlsfort Terrace
- Ensuring compliance with modern health and safety standards
- Providing a permanent and appropriate base for the National Symphony Orchestra
- Ensuring that the NCH is a centre of cultural and musical excellence
- Ensuring that the NCH supports and contributes to national spatial development objectives and policy
Following the approval of the project's Strategic Assessment Report, the National Concert Hall, with assistance from the Office of Public Works has undertaken a range of investigative and other survey works, as well as preparing a range of design options for the site. The output of this work is the Preliminary Business Case which, in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code, sets out a number of options for the redevelopment of the campus. The Business Case has been submitted to my Department for review and its recommendations are currently being considered.
51. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to support small and medium tourism business in the tourism sector to decarbonise, with clear targets and deliverables; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32188/22]
View answerOfficials in my Department have commenced work on a new national tourism policy which will place sustainability at the heart of tourism in Ireland going forward. A working group was established under the Tourism Action Plan 2019-2021 to review international policy and best practice in sustainable tourism and propose guiding principles for sustainable tourism development in Ireland.
To maintain momentum on the sustainable tourism agenda, the working group prepared an interim action plan which I brought to Government late last year. The report identified a suite of actions that aim to promote sustainable tourism practices out to 2023. These actions are being delivered by my Department, the tourism agencies and the tourism sector.
Driving climate action is a strategic priority for Fáilte Ireland and their aim is to drive change at the level of the business and the destination to ensure that tourism plays its part in reducing emissions. Measures include the development of a bespoke carbon calculator which will allow tourism businesses to measure and understand their carbon footprint, set targets for emission reductions and benchmark their business both with themselves over time and other tourism businesses.
Understanding the imperative of a step change required at the level of the individual business, Fáilte Ireland has already designed a suite of tactical supports around food waste, water and energy that provides businesses with the relevant and necessary advice and guidance to address imbalances and ensure that positive change can happen.
Fáilte Ireland is working to produce a ‘Climate Action Roadmap’ along with a series of guides to explain sustainable tourism and in particular, to set out the areas of climate action required to reduce carbon emissions. It will focus on the priority areas including energy, water and food waste, explaining the terminology and providing practical tips and advice on how to start and progress the journey. A range of best in class case studies will demonstrate the net benefits to starting on the sustainability journey and a repository housing all the latest information and advice is also being developed. Fáilte Ireland plans to launch this later in 2022.
I can also confirm that Tourism Ireland will create new sales and marketing opportunities for those sustainable tourism businesses that want to grow their international business.
Measures such as these will shine a light on areas and destinations at home that are striving to be best in class in terms of sustainability and provide better access to information and tools for the tourism industry and visitors to practice responsible tourism.
As we rebuild our tourism sector we will seek to realise Ireland’s ambition to be amongst the world-leaders in sustainable tourism practices and set out a path for a green transition of the tourism industry and our destinations to become a leading sustainable tourism destination.
52. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the barriers for artists with disabilities availing of funding from schemes initiated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the steps that she is taking to eliminate these barriers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32446/22]
View answer70. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has had any engagement or interaction with the Minister for Social Protection in relation to ensuring that artists with disabilities do not risk losing their core social protection payments such as disability allowance or blind pension when receiving grants and bursaries from schemes initiated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32447/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 70 together.
The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot is the scheme initiated by my Department. I can assure the Deputy that the issue of disabled artists participating in this scheme it is a matter which I take seriously.
The BIA is a three-year research programme to examine the impact a basic income style payment could have on artists and creative arts workers and their creative practice. A key research question will be the impact such a payment could have on artists with disabilities.
I was determined since the outset of the BIA pilot scheme that artists with disabilities would be in a position to participate in the scheme to the greatest extent possible within the legislative framework to ensure the research captured the experience of disabled artists. To that end bilateral engagement has been ongoing between my Department and the Department of Social Protection, to get agreement that the payment will be treated as earnings from self-employment and can be taken into account in earnings disregards that applies to many social welfare payments including Disability Allowance. That means that the basic income for the arts will be treated like any other income a person on social welfare earns from employment. The actual impact of the Basic Income on a person's welfare entitlements will depend on each individual’s circumstances, applicants will need to engage with the Department of Social Protection on the matter.
The Department of Social Protection published a guide to the Interaction of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme with DSP Payments (www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd818-interaction-of-the-basic-income-for-the-arts-pilot-scheme-with-dsp-payments/#) on Gov.ie on 13 April to assist all applicants for BIA in receipt of DSP supports including those with disabilities. The Department of Social Protection has also undertaken to engage directly with disabled artists who are selected for the pilot to help them understand the impact accepting the payment would have in their individual circumstances.
Eligibility for income support payments other that the BIA, such as social welfare supports including payment to people with disabilities, is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection and I do not have any function in that regard.
53. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department is working with other Departments to develop job opportunities within the gaeltacht regions in order that working life can be conducted through the Irish language. [32079/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that state-support for job creation and enterprise development in Gaeltacht regions is provided via Údarás na Gaeltachta. In order to further support the agency in discharging its functions my Department has provided significant additional exchequer funding over consecutive budgets in recent years.
The Deputy may be assured that my Department will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders, including Government Departments, in order to support and foster the further development and maintenance of Gaeltacht regions as the natural domain of the language where such opportunities present themselves.
54. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to monitor developments in the tourism sector with a view to ensuring insofar as is possible that the industry is capable of meeting its targets in terms of seamless access to all necessary services in the sector including the smooth running of ports and airports, the making of arrangements to ensure that those seeking a holiday for perhaps the first time in some years are facilitated insofar as is possible and that the sector is adequately provided for by way of adequate staffing throughout; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32190/22]
View answerThe Recovery Oversight Group, which has provided valuable inputs to the Government on the measures required to assist the tourism sector, reports to me on a regular basis with updates on the implementation of the recommendations set out in the Tourism Recovery Plan 2020 – 2023 and on the recovery of the sector more generally.
In terms of international perception, there is a risk of damage to Ireland’s tourism offering and the promotion of Ireland as a good value destination through negative customer experience arising from the issues and challenges arising within the sector during this post-Covid reopening phase.
Many of these issues and challenges, such as reduced services and higher prices as a result of inflation, energy costs, labour shortages/recruitment challenges and supply chain issues, occur in other counties around the world. We see them manifested in Ireland in a lack of affordable accommodation and car rental options in certain areas, and in delays at Dublin Airport. In this regard, Tourism Ireland is monitoring any reputational impact from pricing concerns overseas and is reporting weekly on this matter to the Department.
My officials have engaged with many stakeholders, including, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, the Irish Hotels Federation and the Car Rental Council of Ireland, in order to further understand the underlying issues giving rise to the current challenges facing the sector. They are also working with the tourism agencies to identify potential remedial actions, such as the reweighting of marketing campaigns to ensure promotional activity is aligned with supply across the year.
The Tánaiste and I co-chair the Tourism and Hospitality Forum; this grouping is due to meet next week and this will offer another opportunity to discuss and address these issues.
My Department and Fáilte Ireland are continuing to collaborate with industry and other Government Departments to ensure that there is a coordinated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages. The additional funding I obtained for Tourism in Budget 2022 will allow for targeted investment in human capital, skills development and education to help address particular employment challenges faced by tourism businesses in attracting talent, assisting skills development and retaining staff. Fáilte Ireland has an extensive plan in place to support the tourism industry to address both its immediate and longer-term recruitment challenges including initiatives such as: a marketing campaign to drive awareness of live jobs in the sector, a range of supports to build the industry’s recruitment capabilities, the new Transition Year Work Placement Programme to provide tourism and hospitality businesses with a direct link to students looking for work experience, a programme to support businesses to access people on the Live Register via the Government’s new Pathways to Work strategy and linking businesses with local third level students.
While the effective operation of ports and airports is of critical importance in terms of the recovery of our tourism sector, these matters fall within the remit of my colleague Mr. Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for Transport. With specific regard to the pressures at Dublin airport, I am of course concerned that if this situation were to persist it could cause significant reputational damage for the country abroad and as a result hinder the recovery of our tourism sector. I understand, however, that both Minister Ryan and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton are continuing to hold meetings with the CEO of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and his management team on these matters. Several key measures have been rolled out which aim to mitigate the risk of a repeat to recent delays and though challenges remain, the DAA has advised that the measures they have taken will substantially mitigate risk during this busy summer period.
55. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the measures she intends to take to improve the conditions of employment of workers and performers in the Irish Film Industry; her views given the large subsidies going to the producers in that sector, that it is meeting the requirements for quality employment and training and the industry development test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32459/22]
View answerThe Section 481 tax credit system is a vital part of the financial infrastructure of the audio-visual industry in Ireland. The objectives of the film tax credit are to act as a stimulus to the Irish audiovisual industry in the State, creating quality employment opportunities, upskilling workers across the industry, supporting the production of new audiovisual programming across areas of Irish culture and language, including Irish storytelling, giving full breadth to our heritage, experience, diversity and history, both fictional and factual and providing opportunities to export Irish culture on screen.
The recent growth being experienced by the screen industry in Ireland is welcome and testament to the work ethic and resilience of the sector. Future growth within the sector needs to be delivered in a sustainable and responsible way with safe and respectful workplaces at its core.
Significant emphasis is now placed on upskilling, training and continued development of our audiovisual workforce as a pre-condition of receiving a Certificate under Section 481. In order to qualify, production companies must commit to training and upskilling outlays that are proportionate to the amount of tax relief that they ultimately receive. The old training requirements have now been recast as life-long learning with individual participants being upskilled at all levels – from new entrants to our brightest and best given the opportunity to shadow internationally acclaimed film directors, producers and directors of photography. Additionally, producer companies must engage with Screen Ireland’s Screen Skills Division to provide training that is currently relevant and necessary in the industry.
Along with the additional training requirements, there is an increased emphasis and scrutiny on the provision of quality employment across film projects. Each Producer Company and Qualifying Company is required to give an undertaking, not only to be in compliance with all obligations in the field of environmental, social and employment law, but crucially to have in place written policies and procedures in relation to Grievances, Discipline and Dignity at work (including harassment, bullying and equal opportunity). Companies must also provide details of any Work Place Commission decisions where those decision are a finding against such a company, confirmation that the finding has been followed or an explanation if the finding has not been followed.
56. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the next round of the Sports Capital funding will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32401/22]
View answer66. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will conduct a review into sports capital grants; if she will outline her future plans for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32412/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 66 together.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted.
Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August, 2021.
The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022.
Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision. The deadline for submission of capital appeals was Monday 4 April and 146 appeals were received. The assessment of all appeals is complete and the consequent allocations amounting to €6.14 million were announced on Tuesday 31 May.
The priority in the short term is to advance the 2,895 successful applications under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage which requires detailed engagement with all grantees. Now that the appeal process is complete, my Department will also undertake a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP and any recommendations arising will be reflected in the terms and conditions of the next round. The precise timing of this next round of the Programme will be announced once this review is complete.
57. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department’s strategy to support the Irish language broadcasting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32416/22]
View answerThe media sector, and broadcasting in particular, plays an important role in supporting our identity as a nation, our arts and culture, our sports, and our native language.
TG4 continues to make a huge contribution to both Irish broadcasting and the preservation and promotion of the Irish language. Its broad range of programming, its ‘súil eile’ approach, it's Cine4 initiative with Screen Ireland and the BAI, and its exploitation of cutting edge technology ensures Irish language audiovisual content remains relevant to modern Irish audiences.
Over the past two years I have secured substantial increases in the Exchequer funding allocation for TG4, with increases of of €3.5m and €4.2m in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The additional €4.2m provided this year was the largest ever annual increase in Exchequer funding for TG4, and brought their total allocation to €44.922m, over €1m greater than the amount recommended by the BAI in its Five Year Review of the public service broadcasters.
RTÉ also plays a central role in fostering Irish language broadcasting, as part of its statutory function to provide a comprehensive range of programming in both the Irish and English language that reflects the cultural diversity of the whole island of Ireland. RTÉ published an action plan for Irish language programming in 2019 for the period 2019-2022 that set out to dramatically increase the number of programmes in Irish on RTÉ linear channels and to ensure a wide range of programmes. RTÉ has committed to 600 hours of Irish language content for 2022. This plan includes acquired content from TG4 under their "Ar Scáth a Cheile" partnership initiative.
I am delighted to be the first Minister to contribute to the Irish Language Broadcasting Fund operated by Northern Ireland Screen. My Department is providing €1.2m per year from 2021 to 2023 to support Irish language broadcasting projects in Northern Ireland. Of this funding, €1m is being provided to Northern Ireland Screen for the development of Irish Language content and €100,000 each to RTÉ and TG4 to promote their content in Northern Ireland. This funding is supporting the independent production sector across the island, and has a target of providing a minimum of 75 hours of high quality Irish language content for broadcasters.
58. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she intends to publish the report of the expert group on an individual complaints mechanism as part of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32419/22]
View answerOn 31st January this year, on foot of recommendations arising from pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, I established an Expert Group on an individual complaints mechanism in respect of online safety. In particular, the Expert Group was tasked with assessing whether it would be practicable to provide for an individual complaints mechanism in the Bill and, if so, how it may be done.
I have now received the report and the recommendations of the Expert Group and I am currently reviewing these with a view to determining the appropriate next steps. As I have said previously, if it is practicable, workable, and legally robust to provide for the establishment of an individual complaints mechanism within the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill then I would like to see that it is done.
59. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress to date in the preparing of proposals to avail of funding under the Peace Plus Programme which will benefit the enhancement of tourism infrastructure in the border region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32410/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the PEACE PLUS 2021-2027 programme presents an excellent opportunity to deliver North South co-operation projects in the border counties and tourism is one of the investment areas identified under the programme.
Since 2019, officials in my Department have been engaging with their counterparts in the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland and with the three tourism agencies on the island – Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland - to identify possible tourism initiatives or pipeline projects that may qualify for PEACE PLUS funding.
Department officials, both North and South, continue to engage with the three tourism agencies and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) in advance of Calls for Applications, after which a joint tourism proposal will be submitted to the SEUPB for consideration for programme funding.
