Written Answers Nos. 306-315
306. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department continue to encourage participation in sports in the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23973/23]
View answerI recognise the importance of sport and physical activity for the health and wellbeing of our society and the need to ensure that opportunities are in place to allow all members of society to participate in sport. Encouraging participation levels in sport is an important element of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027.
Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the promotion of sports participation. For 2023, the Government has provided a current budget allocation of €89.7 million for Sport Ireland which will enable the agency to continue to support the sport sector this year.
Sport Ireland engages with sporting organisations on an ongoing basis and is continuing to support the sector in its recovery and development post-pandemic. Significant Government funding of over €162 million has been provided since 2020 in Covid-19 funding support to help sports organisations to recover and grow post-pandemic, support our grassroots networks of clubs and local sports partnerships, and ensure that people of all ages and abilities return to sport and physical activity.
In addition, as part of Budget 2023, €35 million was made available to help alleviate the impact of increased energy costs for sports clubs and organisations with a view to ensuring that everyone can continue to enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity over the winter months.
Last week, Minister Catherine Martin and I announced the reopening of the application process for the Sports Energy Support Scheme with an extended eligibility period to the end of May. The re-opening of the Sports Energy Support Scheme demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to supporting our sports clubs and facilities across the country.
307. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department propose to support and promote the tourism sector at home and abroad in the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23974/23]
View answerIn Budget 2023 I secured additional funding of €15 million for overseas marketing of Ireland after 2022’s once-off pump-priming investment of €35 million.??
The additional funding secured this year for overseas marketing allows Tourism Ireland to focus on delivering long-term sustainable demand through its new global campaign – Fill your heart with Ireland. This strategic promotional campaign will raise the awareness of our tourism offering overseas and create a desire to travel from our top markets.
Budget 2023 also saw a €2 million increase in funding for domestic marketing, to promote Ireland’s tourism offering to Irish holidaymakers. This will allow Fáilte Ireland to continue to build momentum on a mass reach media marketing campaign – Keep Discovering. The campaign is centered on reminding people that a short break is a great option for them to do so with friends and family, and to bring to life the different destinations across the country.
I also secured additional funding to support a range of measures including domestic marketing, transforming the digital capabilities of tourism businesses, boosting the industry’s recruitment and retention efforts and sustainable tourism initiatives.
Finally, I also secured in Budget 2023 €36.5 million in capital funding for tourism product development for the continued delivery of enhanced visitor experiences.
Fáilte Ireland’s plans for 2023 are built around driving sustainable recovery at the level of individual businesses; supporting employers and employees in making tourism an attractive long-term career; accelerating growth in domestic tourism; enhancing our outdoor tourism product and the quality of visitor experiences in destinations; and building the digitalisation of the industry and driving climate action.
309. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department continue to promote Irish language and culture in Gaeltacht areas throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23976/23]
View answerIn the context of my Department’s role in coordinating the implementation of the Government’s Action Plan for the Irish Language (Plean Gníomhaíochta 2018-2022), the third annual progress report on its ongoing implementation on behalf of Government was published in November 2022.
The plan itself was first published in 2018 in order to accelerate and better co-ordinate implementation of the Government’s overarching 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 which represents Government policy in relation the Irish Language and Gaeltacht regions.
This third report provides an overview of the progress made in 2021 on the implementation of the 180 or so actions contained in the plan itself and its publication is in line with the commitment made to publish such reports on an annual basis in the interests of accountability and transparency.
Key achievements in 2021 include:
- the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law on 22 December 2021.
- by the end of 2021 a total of 32 language plans were approved for 25 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, 4 Gaeltacht Service Towns and 3 Irish Language Networks (7 of which were approved in 2021).
- 19 Language Planning Officers and 4 Assistant Language Planning Officers were employed under the process by the end of December 2021.
- in 2021, 2,323 Gaeltacht children benefited from events organised by Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta with the support of my department.
- there were 55 active groups within Glór na nGael's Teanga Tí Scheme during 2021.
- capital funding at a rate of 95% was provided for 6 early-years services in the Gaeltacht under the Department's Clár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga.
- the derogation of the use of Irish in the EU ended on 31 December 2021. Around 200 people are now employed in high-quality jobs in Irish language units in EU institutions as a result.
- 825 new full-time jobs were created in Údarás na Gaeltachta client-companies in 2021.
- there were 7,809 full-time jobs and 485 part-time jobs in companies that receive support from Údarás at the end of 2021.
- the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta approved State investment of €8.07 million in employment, plant, training and education grants during 2021.
- up to €13.75 million in capital provision was approved during 2021 to restore and develop the business infrastructure of the Gaeltacht to help develop employment and new initiatives. A full overview of progress made and in hand is set out in the report itself which can be found on my Department's website.
I am confident that the additional financial allocation for the Irish language announced in Budget 2023, will enable my Department and relevant stakeholders to take further significant strides in advancing implementation of the plan and continue to support and develop greater use of the Irish language both within Gaeltacht regions and nationally.
310. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department continue to use the arts and Irish culture as a means of attracting tourism here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23977/23]
View answerThe 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.
311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media whether major capital sports projects are likely to be announced; if any changes to previous policy in this regard is contemplated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23978/23]
View answerThe National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines and the first allocations were announced in January 2020. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals.
The first LSSIF allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic obviously gave rise to significant financial challenges for all grantees with many of them having to reprioritise their own expenditure plans due to reductions in their income streams. In more recent times, the high level of construction inflation has also presented considerable challenges for grantees.
In view of these issues, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects that were allocated grants and meetings with all grantees have taken place. It is encouraging that, based on these discussions with grantees, over half of the 33 projects should be in a position to draw down funding this year. While this progress is very welcome, these discussions also confirm that some projects in receipt of LSSIF grants may not proceed in the short to medium term.
In view of this, Minister Martin and I are currently considering whether additional resources could be provided to projects in need of further assistance and whether a new round of the LSSIF could be opened in due course. There is ongoing engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in this regard. Once these discussions are concluded, I will provide an update in respect of any new round of the LSSIF.
312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which opportunity exists for winter holidays in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23979/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
313. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department continue to monitor developments in the media with particular reference to the need to ensure that local print media and radio stations are not endangered by unregulated entities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23980/23]
View answerI recognise the essential role that local print media and the local and regional radio sector plays in sharing reliable and relevant local news and bringing communities together. The media sector in Ireland, which is a vital element of our democracy and society as a whole, is undergoing fundamental change.
To address this, the Government approved an Implementation Strategy and Action Plan in January 2023 to implement the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission (FOMC) Report. The FOMC had examined how media should serve Irish society, how well the current system meets these goals and what changes ought to be made to support the development of the media sector in Ireland.
One of the key recommendations made by the Commission was for the conversion of the Broadcasting Fund, currently provided for under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and which supports the Sound and Vision and Archiving Schemes, into a Media Fund. The Media Fund will provide funding for six additional schemes on a platform-neutral basis to the wider media sector.
In light of the recommendations of the FOMC, €6 million was allocated in Budget 2023 to the Media Fund on an administrative basis, with the priority being the establishment of a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and a Courts Reporting Scheme. Both Schemes will support media at local, regional and national levels on a platform-neutral basis, including the local print media and radio stations. My Department is currently finalising the broad parameters of the Schemes, which will inform the detailed design and implementation of the Schemes to be undertaken by Coimisiún na Meán.
Funding for the radio sector is currently made available through the Sound and Vision Scheme for the production of programming on Irish culture, heritage and experience. The Scheme, which is administered by the Coimisiún na Meán, is funded by 7% of the annual television licence fee funds and can be augmented by Exchequer funding. Since taking office, I have secured an additional €22.4m in Exchequer funding to the Scheme, of which €7.5m has been ring-fenced for the commercial radio sector, including an allocation of €2.5m to the BAI which I announced in December and which will be distributed this year. A further €1.2m has been ring-fenced for community radio since I took office. In addition to the dedicated funding rounds for radio, each general round is also open to radio applications – 67 new radio projects received funding in the last general round, announced in April.
As regards, the regulation of online and audiovisual media services, on 15 March I commenced the majority of the provisions of the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Act 2022 and formally established Coimisiún na Meán as the new online safety and media regulator. Accordingly, Coimisiún na Meán is fulfilling the role previously played by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in licensing broadcasting services such as local radio stations while also taking on a new role regulating online services and video-on-demand services. Furthermore, my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment is bringing forward legislation to designate Coimisiún na Meán as the Digital Services Co-ordinator under the EU Digital Services Act, which will give Coimisiún na Meán a role in regulating providers of intermediary services, such as online platforms, from February 2024.
314. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she sees opportunity to attract major sporting events to this country, thereby promoting this country as an attractive location for these events internationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23981/23]
View answerIreland has consistently demonstrated an ambition to attract major international sports events that can make a positive return to the country. This is most recently evidenced by the Government’s decision to support the submission of a final bid dossier by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), with the UK football associations, for the right to host the UEFA Euro 2028 championships as well as the upcoming hosting of the following events:
- US College Football matches every August from 2022 to 2026
- The UEFA Europa League final in 2024, and
- The Ryder Cup in 2027 in Limerick
In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a Major International Sports Events Policy is currently being developed by my Department. The aim is to establish whether and how Government should support major international sports events, the benefits it should seek to derive from such events, the supports it could offer and the kind of events it would prioritise for support. This will provide the basis for a Strategy to support and attract major international sports events and an assessment model based on the identified priorities. Mechanisms and channels to support events will also need to be developed.
While progress on the development of the policy was delayed by the pandemic, focused consultations with key stakeholders have been held and a public consultation was completed last year. Research, including consideration of the policies and strategies in place in other countries, has been undertaken and is continuing.
My Department is now working towards the development and publication of a high level policy paper in the coming months.
315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which hotel bed spaces continue to remain sufficiently available throughout Dublin city and greater areas, with a view to ensuring that tourists and those seeking hotel accommodation are not pressured into paying exorbitant prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23982/23]
View answerThe war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of International Protection applicants, continues to put real pressure on the Government’s ability to offer humanitarian accommodation and has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State’s history. Ireland is now accommodating over 83,520 people in this context, compared with 8,300 in February 2022. This is equivalent to the population of Galway City and serviced accommodation within the tourism sector, hotels primarily, has been to the fore in meeting this immediate need.
Demand for Irish tourism, both from abroad and at home, is strong and the sector, supported by Government, has shown great resilience in rebuilding after Covid. At this point, it is difficult to predict with any certainty the balance between tourism demand and availability of accommodation in 2023 as much will depend on the continued interplay between the tourism accommodation sector and the humanitarian effort.
Businesses continue to face significant cost pressures due to inflation and other economic factors, now in particular energy prices and food prices and this has contributed to higher prices than in 2019. While the reduced availability of hotel rooms for tourism can create the conditions for price rises beyond those dictated by the cost pressures outlined above, all businesses in the sector need to be cognisant of the long term impact of pricing.
It is important Ireland maintains its reputation as a value for money destination and that the industry protects the value for money proposition for Irish tourism in the longer-term. While businesses need to be able to make a sustainable trading margin they must also pay attention to their pricing and how they can deliver added value as part of the wider Irish tourism ecosystem.
