Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:535. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding currently provided by the State to Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh [40453/22]
View answerGaeltacht Policy
Questions (535)
Written answers
By way of further supporting the Irish summer colleges sector, in addition to the significant supports provided via Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, total funding of just over €166,000 was provided to Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh (CONCOS) for the three years from 2019-2021.
A recent application by CONCOS for funding for the period 2022-2024 is currently being evaluated by my Department.
Gaeltacht Scholarships
Questions (536)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:536. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of restoring the partial scholarships administered by Foras na Gaeilge for students from the North of Ireland to attend Gaeltacht summer colleges to cover 100 scholarships; and the estimated cost to increase the scholarship per student by 25%, 50%, 87.5% and in line with inflation since the grant was discontinued. [40454/22]
View answerWritten answers
Foras na Gaeilge funds an annual Scholarship Scheme which provides scholarships to students, adults and families in order for them to attend Gaeltacht courses.
This scheme aims to provide an opportunity to young people under eighteen years of age who live in the North, as well as adults and families throughout the island, to attend a Gaeltacht course.
The scheme is currently administered by Glór na nGael and Conradh na Gaeilge on behalf of Foras na Gaeilge.
It is important to note that the scheme was not discontinued but was revised in 2019 to place additional emphasis on providing grants to disadvantaged students, as well as applicants from Gaeltacht Service Towns and Networks.
For the period 2020-2022 Foras na Gaeilge made a decision that scholarships for those under 18 would be awarded at rates between €100 - €400.
The total number of scholarships to be provided within this funding is not fixed and is a matter for the organisations administering the scheme on behalf of Foras na Gaeilge.
I understand approximately €70,000 has been provided by Foras na Gaeilge for the scholarship scheme this year. The estimated cost of increasing the funding as requested by the Deputy is set out below.
|
Allocation 2022 |
€70,000 |
|
25% increase |
€87,500 |
|
50% increase |
€105,000 |
|
87.5% increase |
€131,250 |
Gaeltacht Scholarships
Questions (537)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:537. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of expanding the Gaeltacht scholarship scheme for Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, students from 50 students to 500 students at the existing full scholarship rate and at a per student rate increased by 20%, 25%, 50% and in line with inflation since 2020. [40455/22]
View answerWritten answers
The DEIS Gaeltachta scholarship scheme was expanded from 50 to over 400 students this year at a cost of €400,000. Given that the funding allocation provides learning opportunities to qualifying students to attend either three or two-week courses in the current year in addition to administration costs it is not possible to provide the cost projections sought.
Foras na Gaeilge
Questions (538)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:538. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of increasing the State’s current allocation for Foras na Gaeilge by 1%, 25%, 32% and 35%, respectively. [40469/22]
View answerWritten answers
Foras na Gaeilge, one of the agencies of the North-South Language Bodies, receives 75% of its funding from my Department. The North-South Ministerial Council approved budget from my Department for Foras na Gaeilge is €12,387,239 in 2022.
|
Allocation 2022 |
€12,387,239 |
|
1% increase |
€12,511,111.39 |
|
25% increase |
€15,484,048.75 |
|
32% increase |
€16,351,155.48 |
|
35% increase |
€16,722,772.65 |
Irish Language
Questions (539)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:539. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of restoring Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge to its 2008 funding allocation and increased in line with inflation since 2008 [40470/22]
View answerWritten answers
The allocation for Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge in 2008 was €1,820,000. The allocation in 2022 is €1,061,165. The cost of restoring the allocation to the 2008 level and increased in line with inflation would be in the region of €1,026,375.
Irish Language
Questions (540)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:540. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated total cost of providing an additional €50,000 in funding for language planning in each Gaeltacht service town and Irish Language Network, North and South [40471/22]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated annual cost of providing the increase referred to by the Deputy, based on the 16 Gaeltacht Service Towns which are currently recognised or shortlisted for recognition under the language planning process, together with the 5 Irish Language Networks which are currently recognised (3 of which have obtained statutory status in the south and 2 of which are funded on a non-statutory basis by Foras na Gaeilge in the north), would be as follows:
16 x €50,000 = €800,000
5 x €50,000 = €250,000
Total estimated cost: €1,050,000.
As the Deputy is aware, increases in provision are dependent on the resources available to the Department. Any increased funding in 2023 will be determined in the forthcoming Estimates process.
Irish Language
Questions (541)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:541. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated total cost of providing €25,000 for language planning in each local authority area, North and South. [40472/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Language Planning process which is being implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Gaeltacht Act 2010 continues to be implemented with ongoing exchequer support across the 3 relevant language planning entities as prescribed under the Act, namely Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas; Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks.
As the Act does not prescribe local authority areas - neither in this jurisdiction nor in Northern Ireland - as language planning entities under the Act, the question is hypothetical.
Broadcasting Sector
Questions (542)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:542. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost each year to develop a radio station (details supplied) as a fully fledged national FM radio station over a five-year period. [40473/22]
View answerWritten answers
In conjunction with the my Department and in line with an objective of the Government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is currently conducting research into the feasibility of establishing a full-time Irish-medium radio service for young people broadcasting on multiple platforms.
On competition of the BAI research, which is expected by autumn 2022, the costs associated with the proposed future broadcasting model for this service will become clearer.
Broadcasting Sector
Questions (543)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:543. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of increasing funding for TG4 by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. [40475/22]
View answerWritten answers
TG4 is largely funded from the Exchequer with some commercial income. In 2022 I secured the largest ever annual increase in Exchequer funding to TG4 of €4.2m, to bring the allocation for this year to €44.933m, comprised of €40.733m current and €4.2m capital.
The cost of increasing the overall funding by the percentages indicated by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
% increase |
Cost |
|
10 |
€4.493m |
|
15 |
€6.740m |
|
20 |
€8.987m |
|
25 |
€11.233m |
The cost of increasing current funding only is set out in the following table.
|
% increase |
Cost |
|
10 |
€4.073m |
|
15 |
€6.110m |
|
20 |
€8.147m |
|
25 |
€10.183m |
As the Deputy is aware, increases in provision are dependent on the resources available to the Department. Any increased funding in 2023 will be determined in the forthcoming Estimates process.
Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga
Questions (544)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:544. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of doubling funding and staff for Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga or the Office of the Language Commissioner. [40476/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy should be aware that I secured an increase of €179,000 on the annual budget of the Office of the Language Commissioner for 2022. This additional financial allocation has enabled the appointment of additional staff to assist the Commissioner in fulfilling his additional functions arising from the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021.
The overall budget for 2022 for the Office of the Language Commissioner is €1,087,000. The cost of doubling this would be €2,174,000.
As the Deputy is aware, increases in provision are dependent on the resources available to the Department. Any increased funding in 2023 will be determined in the forthcoming Estimates process.
Irish Language
Questions (545)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:545. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated capital cost of building, restoring and renovating Irish Language centres or Cultúrlainn across the State with no increase on the 2022 allocation; and if the allocation were increased by €5 million, €7.5 million and €10 million. [40477/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s 2022 allocation for the development or upgrade of Irish language centres is €3.5m. As my Department is only one potential funding stakeholder involved in the provision of these centres and as each stakeholder’s contribution varies depending on the nature and location of each project, the figures requested by the Deputy do not exist.
Culture Policy
Questions (546)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:546. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of doubling funding for the National Folklore Collection. [40496/22]
View answerWritten answers
I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the Dúchas project, funded by my Department, under which the Schools Collection of Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann is being digitised. Funding of €242,812 has been allocated to this project in 2022. A doubling of this provision equates to €485,624.
As the Deputy is aware, increases in provision are dependent on the resources available to the Department. Any increased funding in 2023 will be determined in the forthcoming Estimates process.
Culture Ireland
Questions (547)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:547. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of doubling funding for Culture Ireland. [40498/22]
View answerWritten answers
Culture Ireland is a unit of my Department with responsibility for the promotion of Irish Arts internationally. In doing so, they work with International presenting partners and annual funded bodies to bring high quality Irish arts, across all art forms, to global audiences.
In 2022 Culture Ireland's Budget is €4.6m. A doubling of that budget would bring the total allocation to €9.2m.
Any increased funding in 2023 will be determined in the forthcoming Estimates process.
Departmental Programmes
Questions (548)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:548. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of expanding the creative schools programme to all schools. [40499/22]
View answerWritten answers
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. Creative Schools supports schools over 2 years to develop and implement a bespoke Creative Schools plan. It is led by the Arts Council in partnership with my Department and the Department of Education. Access to the initiative is open to all Department of Education-recognised primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres - currently 4,076 according to published figures (www.gov.ie/en/collection/63363b-data-on-individual-schools/ and www.etbi.ie/youthreach/youthreach-directory-contacts/.
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. Currently, schools cannot re-enter the initiative once they have participated, thereby encouraging the inclusion of new schools each year.
Each school is provided with access to a trained Creative Associate, as well as school coordinator and voice of the child training. In addition, each school participating in the initiative is provided with a Creative Schools operating grant. The Creative Schools initiative also incurs other administrative costs in the Arts Council (e.g., project management team, evaluation and national celebration event), the Department of Education (e.g., teacher substitution for training days), and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (e.g., Hub na nÓg deployment).
From January to July 2021, there were 310 participating schools in the initiative while 350 schools participated in the initiative between September and December that year. While the allocation of funding by the Arts Council is a matter for the Council under the Arts Act 2003, I understand that €2.5 million was provided by the Council to deliver Creative Schools in 2021.
In addition, commencing in 2022, four schools have been invited to participate in Creative Schools that are based in non-mainstream settings and are attached to Special Care Units or Children Detention Centres. Given the particular needs of these settings and the young people within them, they have been offered an enhanced package of supports to include greater allocated time with a Creative Associate and an increased grant.
Creative Schools was originally rolled out as a geographically dispersed pilot initiative, and as such scaling up on a national or universal basis may require a re-consideration of the most feasible model of delivery.
Culture Policy
Questions (549)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:549. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated average cost of funding an artist-in-residence in each Department in cases in which there is no existing artist-in-residence. [40500/22]
View answerWritten answers
The designation of artists-in-residence encompasses a wide range of artistic disciplines involving collaborations between artists and hosting organisations. At the core of an artist's residency is an approach that provides artists with space and resources in their artistic practice and discipline while working together with the host organisation in pursuit of a specific outcome.
There is no pre-determined or universal annual salary or duration and each artist-in-residence role is different. Any artist-in-residence programme funded by my Department would be advertised publicly and subject to an open and transparent process.
Culture Policy
Questions (550)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:550. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of increasing overall funding for the national cultural institutions by 12.5%, 16%, 20% and 25%, respectively. [40503/22]
View answerWritten answers
The funding provided to the National Cultural Institutions is determined during the annual estimates process which will complete in the coming weeks. Details of the 2022 allocations for each institution are published as part of the Revised Estimate Volume. The most recent REV for 2022 is published on the gov.ie website (gov.ie - The Revised Estimates Volumes for the Public Service (www.gov.ie)).
The gross funding provided to the National Cultural Institutions in 2022 was €65.17m. The table below shows the impact of increases of 12.5%, 16%, 20% and 25% on this figure:
|
% increase |
12.5% |
16% |
20% |
25% |
|
€ million |
€73.32 |
€75.6 |
€78.2 |
€81.46 |
It should be noted, that the National Cultural Institutions also receive capital funding to support the delivery of redevelopment projects as part of the National Development Plan. The level of funding provided in each year relates to the stage and funding requirements for the project in that year.
Any increased funding in 2023 will be determined in the forthcoming Estimates process.