Written Answers Nos. 21-40
21. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention been drawn to the recommendations of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight Report on the Section 481 Film Tax Credit; if she intends to implement the recommendations and discuss them with the Minister for Finance; and her views on each of the 14 recommendations. [23711/23]
View answer25. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will agree to an all inclusive film industry stakeholders forum, as recommended by the recently published budgetary oversight committee report on the section 481 film tax credit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23580/23]
View answerI propose to answer Questions Nos. 21 and 25 together.
I welcome the work done by the Budgetary Oversight Committee over the past 12 months and I would like to congratulate the members on their Report.
The 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 Committee’s Report is substantive and my officials and I will take time to reflect on the Report and consider the 14 recommendations from the Committee in detail.
The recommendations include a range of issues that are policy matters for my Cabinet colleagues. The Minister for Finance has responsibility for the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (as amended) the legislation governing Section 481. In particular, the Committee recommended the removing or raising the cap on Section 481 and retaining the regional uplift and I will be engaging with Minister McGrath on these matters in advance of the Budget. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has responsibility for Copyright matters, the EU Copyright Directive and the Workplace Relations Commission issues.
Recommendation number 14 is that the Committee recommends that both my Department and the Department of Finance convene a stakeholder forum to discuss how to maximise the benefits of the Section 481 credit for all concerned stakeholders and to facilitate best practice in employment rights, industrial relations, collective bargaining, address Copyright and Intellectual Property issues and any other relevant issues.
On that specific recommendation, my officials will be speaking with the Department of Finance about what format a forum might take. In the audiovisual industry, stakeholder consultation by my Department and Screen Ireland is well established and consultations on matters such as sustainability and equality, diversity and integration have been ongoing. In general, the outcome of consultation with stakeholders benefit the industry as a whole and future growth within the sector needs to be delivered in a sustainable and responsible way with safe and respectful workplaces at its core.
23. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on discussions with the European Commission regarding the Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill. [23457/23]
View answerOn 7 December 2022 the Government approved the priority drafting of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill and publication of the General Scheme of the Bill which provides for the registration of short-term tourist lettings with Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment under Housing for All, the Government's housing policy.
On 21 December the proposed STTL Bill was submitted to the EU Commission pursuant to Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535. Such a notification triggers a standstill period of 3 months during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted. On 22 March 2023, the Department received a communication from the EU Commission which extends that standstill period until 22 December 2023.
The EU Commission has extended the standstill period as it considers the STTL Bill concerns a matter covered in part by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of 7 November 2022 . This Proposal is currently in the early stages of negotiation by the Union co-legislators
My Department, Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are examining the communication from the EU Commission including taking necessary legal advice. Officials from my Department are engaging with the Commission to arrange an in person meeting with EU officials to take place in Brussels in the coming weeks. The analysis of the communication from and further engagement with the Commission will inform the timeline for the legislation and the establishment of the register.
24. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she its taking to support festivals in meeting rising operating costs. [23338/23]
View answerI am conscious of the challenges involved in putting on festivals, the contribution they make to the artistic and cultural life of local communities and how they make destinations more attractive to domestic and international tourists. Accordingly, my Department and the relevant agencies under its aegis support the staging of festivals.
In that regard, my Department runs a Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme annually. The Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of funding support from the Government and other State Agencies. The 2023 Festivals and Summer School scheme was opened for applications on the Department’s website on 28 April and the deadline for receipt of applications is 9 June. In 2022 I allocated over €116,000 to 33 festivals across the country which was an increase of almost a third on the previous year's funding.
The Arts Council also provides financial support to a range of festivals, large and small, both single art form and multidisciplinary arts festivals. Strategic Funding supports organisations which are critical to the national arts infrastructure while the Festivals Investment Scheme is specifically designed to offer support to local/voluntary organisations to develop arts festivals.
As part of their Strategically Funded Festivals, Fáilte Ireland supports a diverse selection of larger festivals and events throughout the country. The Regional Festival Scheme, which they also support, is available to local community festivals and is administered by the Local Authorities. Each Local Authority manages their own application and grant process.
I have asked both the Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland to reply directly to the Deputy in regard to their funding assessment processes and how operational costs are taken into account.
27. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the fruit and vegetable market in Dublin's north inner city (details supplied). [23664/23]
View answerI understand that Dublin Fruit Market is owned by Dublin City Council. Neither I, my Department nor any of its agencies has any involvement in or accountability for the market. I understand there are currently no Fáilte Ireland funding schemes that the Dublin Fruit Market would be eligible to apply for but that Fáilte Ireland could engage with Dublin City Council in any review by the Council of the tourism potential of the market.
My role and that of my Department officials in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy.
From the point of view of tourism, the Dublin Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023-27 is a roadmap for the tourism industry and all stakeholders involved in tourism in the region to navigate the current challenges and steer a course towards a sustainable recovery and continued success. Over the course of this strategy, in addition to activation of the Dublin Coastal Trail, the ongoing implementation of the Docklands Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP), and the Dublin City DEDP (development of which was launched last year), Fáilte Ireland will develop Mountains DEDP, commencing 2023.
2022 was a busy year for the Dublin Region with a number of projects and initiatives completed. For example, Dublin's Surprising Stories Small Grants (€1.7 Million), were all completed in 2022 allowing for better international language provision and story interpretation across 10 key visitor attractions.
In addition, Failte Ireland's Digital That Delivers (DTD) programme ensured that 43 Dublin industry received €1.15 million in capital investment to improve their digital capability ensuring they promote, win and convert business.
2022 also saw the first complete year of the Winter in Dublin Programme, with a marketing campaign reaching over 5 million, building on Dublin's positioning as a Winter Break Capital.
28. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the measures her Department is taking to address staffing shortages in the tourism sector. [23456/23]
View answer72. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what measures her Department are taking to address the employment vacancies and skills shortages in the tourism trade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23705/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 72 together.
The latest research by Fáilte Ireland shows that while recruitment is still a significant challenge for tourism businesses, the situation is improving and employers are making positive strides. The number of vacancies across the industry has fallen, from circa 40,000 at the start of 2022 to around 22,000 at present. Overall, positions have become less difficult to fill while staff retention has improved. For employees, hourly rates of pay have improved, compensation for working unsocial hours has become more common and job security among workers has grown.
My Department participates in the Tourism and Hospitality Careers Oversight Group which brings together industry representatives, state agencies, Government Departments and the education sector.
My Department and Fáilte Ireland are also working with industry and across Government to ensure a co-ordinated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages. For example, in 2022 my Department and Fáilte Ireland worked closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) to ensure processing times for work permits were reduced significantly. My Department and Fáilte Ireland have also worked with DETE to increase work permit application success rates by providing information sessions to industry. In 2023 and the years ahead my Department and Fáilte Ireland will continue to work with industry and recruitment experts to share best practice guidance on retention and building capability.
With regard to working conditions in the sector, Fáilte Ireland’s research indicates that 70% of people within the sector see tourism as a long-term career option. Around 70% of businesses surveyed indicated that they are increasing their pay and offering flexible work patterns, more stable work schedules and other benefits.
Fáilte Ireland also launched the “Employer Excellence” programme in September 2022 to help participating businesses to improve their employer practices, and enhance their reputation as excellent employers. On 19 April last, Failte Ireland held the inaugural Employer Excellence Awards ceremony in the Guinness Storehouse. This programme is helping employers to drive great employee engagement, build the appeal of their workplace and unlock greater levels of performance across their business. Further initiatives undertaken include a Transition Year Work Placement Programme to give Transition Year students a high-quality work placement along with a major recruitment awareness campaign called “Works For Me” to encourage people of all ages to consider a career in the industry.
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.
29. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte 8506/23, soiléiriú a thabhairt ar stádas an fheachtais earcaíochta maidir le Coimisinéir Teanga nua a cheapadh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [23449/23]
View answerTuigim go bhfuil an leabhrán don chomórtas do phost an Choimisinéara Teanga á thabhairt chun críche faoi láthair ag oifigigh mo Roinne agus ag an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí agus go bhfuiltear ag súil go bhfógrófar é roimh dheireadh Bealtaine. Mar atá ráite agam cheana, meastar go dtógfaidh sé suas le trí mhí ó dháta an fhógra chun iarrthóir a roghnú.
Ar mhaithe le leanúnachas a chinntiú i bhfeidhmiú chúraimí Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga agus, tar éis comhairle dlí a fháil ar an ábhar, tá feidhmeanna an Choimisinéara Teanga á tarmligthe chuig Stiúrthóir na hOifige faoi mar a cheadaítear faoi mhír 9 den Dara Sceideal d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003. Tá na feidhmeanna sin á tarmligthe chuige ón 12 Feabhra 2023 go dtí go gceapfar Coimisinéir Teanga nua.
30. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider the request by an organisation (details supplied) that both the national and international An Gorta Mór Day be held on the same day to unite Irish people at home with Ireland's global Irish family overseas in commemoration of this event. [12877/23]
View answerThe National Famine Commemoration Committee, established in 2008, is charged with considering arrangements for the National Famine Commemoration Day.
In 2018, the Government approved the designation of the third Sunday of May each year as the National Famine Commemoration Day, with the arrangements for the holding of the State commemoration on this day or the preceding Saturday, to be decided each year following consultation with the relevant local authority and host community.
This year's National Famine Commemoration will take place on Sunday 21 May 2023 in Milford, Co. Donegal. The annual National Famine Commemoration provides an opportunity for a host community to honour the memory of those who perished or suffered loss during the famine.
The International Famine Commemoration provides diaspora communities the opportunity to remember and reflect on the impact of the famine and the emigration that followed in its wake, and also celebrate the achievements of those who fled Ireland and set up new lives and established thriving communities across the globe.
Proposals are currently being developed by officials of my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs in relation to the 2023 International Famine Commemoration.
There are currently no plans to have the National and International Famine Commemorations on the same day. Any such proposal would need to be carefully considered, so as not to unintentionally restrict options for an appropriate International Famine Commemoration event. It is important that the International Famine Commemoration date is flexible so that it can best suit particular opportunities to commemorate the Famine with meaningful and poignant international events that may not fully align with the date for the National Commemoration. This flexibility has allowed the alignment of the International Famine Commemoration event with significant International events in the past.
31. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will outline when the Public Consultation on Designation of Major Sporting Events will be completed; does she anticipate much additional sporting events to be added to the list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23659/23]
View answerThe designation of events as free to air is a statutorily prescribed process which takes place under Part 11 of the Broadcasting Act and Article 14 of the 2010 Audio-Visual Media Services Directive. The public consultations which are undertaken are the initial steps in the process. The first consultation is complete, having had an initial four-week public consultation to identify events that should be further considered for designation as free-to-air.
On completion of the first public consultation I decided that a full, uninterrupted sporting year should take place before taking any further steps in the process. Allowing sporting bodies to get back on their feet following the years of Covid restrictions allows a more realistic assessment of the financial impacts of designation.
Events proposed for consultation will be published in the coming weeks and will allow for a 4 to 5 week consultation period to enable the public submit their views on the list of events for consideration.
Alongside this, my Department will consult with sporting bodies and broadcasters to take account of their views on the matter. A detailed, independent evaluation taking account of the potential financial impacts on sporting bodies and the extent to which proposed events align with the European criteria, will also be commissioned.
On completion of these stages towards the end of this year, my Department will engage with the European Commission to seek approval for the proposed events.
Finally, a draft Order listing the events will be laid before, and approved by, each House of the Oireachtas. Given the necessary steps involved in the designation process, it is not possible to put a definitive timescale on its completion.
As the final list of events to be designated will be determined by the necessary consultations and assessments set out, I am not in a position to speculate on the number of additional sporting events to be added to the list.
32. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding progress on the Wild Atlantic Walkway, as provided for in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23601/23]
View answerAs the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland’s role is to support the long-term sustainable growth in the economic, social, cultural and environmental contribution of tourism to Ireland. Tourism is of critical importance to the national economy and to regional development and employment.
The development of a Wild Atlantic Way coastal path has been an ambition of Fáilte Ireland’s long-term development of the Wild Atlantic Way visitor proposition.
Research conducted by Fáilte Ireland showed that the idea of an iconic coastal walk stretching along the Wild Atlantic Way was considered a highly motivating factor for international visitors to come to visit Ireland. Early feasibility studies on the coastal pathway project have indicated that there is a strong economic value to rural and regional communities for developing long distance iconic walks, which significantly increase dwell-time in a destination. This in turn has the potential to drive economic growth and creates new opportunities for job creation and tourism business development.
Due to resource and work challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Fáilte Ireland had to defer this initial work in 2022. However the development of the Wild Atlantic Way Coast Path remains a priority in 2023 and I understand that Fáilte Ireland is hoping to commence work in this regard in 2023 and to procure consultants to support this work.
The Authority aims to develop a roadmap and methodology to inform its approach to developing an iconic walking trail along the Wild Atlantic Way and to initiate community consultation and engagement to inform this roadmap and methodology.
The procurement process to tender for consultants for the Wild Atlantic Way Coast Path is now due to commence in Q3 2023. It is anticipated that the delivery of the framework and methodology will take 12 to 18 months.
33. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she would support a review of the GAAGO subscription model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23666/23]
View answerWhile sports bodies receive support from the Exchequer through Sport Ireland, it is necessary for them to generate commercial and other revenue streams to ensure that they can continue to support games and athlete development at all levels.
A challenge that faces all sports bodies in this regard, is to strike the right balance between generating revenue and ensuring as wide an audience as possible for their games. As independent bodies, the management of broadcasting and commercial rights are a matter for each national governing body, including the GAA.
As Minister I have no role in this area of broadcasting rights, and as I have stated previously on this matter, I do not believe that it is appropriate for me to intervene directly. The Joint Oireachtas Committee has stated that a number of sports bodies and broadcasters, including the GAA and RTÉ will be invited to appear and discuss the matter, and I think that that would be an appropriate forum.
Last week, both the GAA and RTÉ indicated that there will be a review of GAAGO after the season is concluded. I am sure that, in the normal course of such a review, the range of views and concerns which have been expressed over the past number of weeks will considered.
34. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide details on how the Government is forward planning to boost tourism in mid County Louth, including areas such as Ardee, Dunleer, Annagassan and Castlebellingham; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23388/23]
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 future planning to boost tourism in mid County Louth 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.
36. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of the difficulties experienced by Irish-based applicants to the diaphonique contemporary music fund, part-funded by Culture Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23462/23]
View answerCulture Ireland as part of its mission to create opportunities for Irish artists, entered into a three-year partnership with Diaphonique in early 2023. This means Irish composers, musicians and venues can now apply for funding through the Diaphonique scheme.
Created in 2010 and run by the Institut Français du Royaume-Uni, the Diaphonique fund had, to date, supported projects in classical contemporary music, commissions, concerts, tours, residencies and educational projects between composers, musicians and venues between France and the United Kingdom.
With Culture Ireland joining as a partner, Diaphonique now welcomes applications from composers, musicians and venues from Ireland. This new collaboration will strengthen the collaborations between the Irish contemporary musical scenes and those of the partner countries, France and the United Kingdom.
The 13th call for projects opened online from 15 March 2023 to 15 May 2023 and applicants with projects initiated by structures based in Ireland could submit projects during this two-month application window.
Irish artists were first alerted to the Ireland participation in Diaphonique through a Culture Ireland announcement on February 22nd of this year. Culture Ireland announced the new partnership through its website and social media channels that with a number of reminders issued in advance of the closing date.
Culture Ireland held an information webinar on Tuesday 21 March to provide information for Irish artists interested in submitting an application to the scheme. Recordings of this session were made available on request.
Culture Ireland has engaged with the Institut Francais who are running the application system to ensure the correct functioning of the website.
A representative from Culture Ireland sits on the Artistic Committee of Diaphonique. As Ireland has only joined the partnership this year inclusion of Irish composers on the Honorary Committee has not yet been possible but is currently under discussion.
37. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán Meán faoin tacaíocht is féidir léi a chur ar fáil chun ceantar Mhúscraí a fhorbairt mar limistéar turasóireachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [23655/23]
View answerTá Carn Uí Néid agus Rinn Mhuintir Bháire agus leithinis iomlán Bhéarra lena n-áirítear baile Neidín i gCiarraí san áireamh i bPlean Forbartha Cinn Scríbe agus Eispéiris Iarthar Chorcaí agus Neidín (DEDP). Tá Maigh Cromtha, Gaeltacht Mhúscraí/Gleann na Laoi agus Droichead na Bandan mar chuid de gheoghrafaíocht Thuaidh agus Thoir an phlean.
I bhfianaise sinéirgí, comhlántacht agus cuspóirí coiteanna, comhcheanglaíodh plean turasóireachta Ghaeltacht Mhúscraí le DEDP Iarthar Chorcaí agus Neidín, le cúnamh ó Fáilte Ireland agus Foireann an Atlantaigh Fhiáin Iarthar Chorcaí, a chuir tacaíocht agus treoir ar fáil do phobal agus do ghnólachtaí Ghaeltacht Mhúscraí.
Tá na gníomhartha a tháinig chun cinn ó Phlean Mhúscraí áirithe chomh maith sa DEDP foriomlán. Forbraíodh an DEDP chomh maith i gcomhar le Comhairlí Contae Chorcaí agus Chiarraí, le Cuideachtaí Forbartha áitiúla (LDCanna), le hOifig na nOibreacha Poiblí, gníomhaireachtaí eile stáit agus i gcomhpháirtíocht le tionscal na turasóireachta sa cheantar.
Suíonn ionadaithe ó ghnólachtaí turasóireachta i gceantar Mhúscraí ar an nGrúpa Forfheidhmithe don DEDP agus is Comh-Chathaoirleach atá i nduine de na baill ar an bplean foriomlán DEDP, ag oibriú le Fáilte Ireland, leis an dá Údarás Áitiúil, gníomhaireachtaí eile agus le hionadaithe tionscail agus ag tabhairt treoir agus comhairle ar a chur i bhfeidhm le linn 5 bliana an phlean. Tá na gníomhartha sa DEDP dírithe ar líon feabhsúchán i réimsí amhail dáileadh cuairteoirí, réimsí faoin spéir a oscailt suas, taitneamhachtaí faoi dhíon agus an geilleagar oíche, bia ceardaí, margaíocht etc.??
Cheadaigh Údarás na Gaeltachta deontas €60,000 sa bhliain 2022 don chomharchumann pobail áitiúil i Múscraí chun oifigeach turasóireachta a cheapadh ar feadh dhá bhliain chun go leor de na gníomhartha atá leagtha amach sa phlean a chur i bhfeidhm. Mar chuid de chomhpháirtíocht straitéiseach, oibríonn Údarás na Gaeltachta go dlúth le feidhmeannaigh Fáilte Ireland sa réigiún chun tacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh ar an láthair.
Áirítear ar na príomhghníomhartha a bhaineann go sonrach leis an gceantar ón DEDP: an Ghaeilge agus cultúr Gaelach na gceantar Gaeltachta a fhorbairt agus a fheabhsú trí eispéiris thumthacha sa chultúr Gaelach agus teanga a dhéanann eispéiris chearta ar leith dóibh agus dul i mbun oibre lena chinntiú go gcuirtear i gcuimhne do chuairteoirí é go bhfuil siad i gceantar i leith ina labhraítear an Ghaeilge.
Is tionscadal spreagthach laistigh de phlean DEDP é Slí Bhéarra-Breifne agus tá Fáilte Ireland ag obair le gníomhaireachtaí agus páirtithe leasmhara faoi láthair chun an tsiúlóid aitheanta fadraoin seo a fhorbairt agus Máistirphlean Shlí Bhéarra-Breifne a chur i bhfeidhm, ina gcuirtear creat ar fáil chun a chinntiú go mbaintear an leas is fearr agus is féidir as an tslí mar eispéireas a mbeidh fonn ar chuairteoirí idirnáisiúnta cuairt a thabhairt uirthi. Téann siúlóid Shlí Bhéarra-Breifne trí cheantar Ghaeltacht Mhúscraí de réir mar a dhéanann sí a bealach ó Oileán Baoi in Iarthar Chorcaí go Blacklion i gContae Liatroma.
38. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which award of further sports grants is anticipated in the coming year; the extent to which those who were beneficiaries in the past three years, and found themselves unable to complete the works, can be accommodated by time extension or top-up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23524/23]
View answerThe 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. The final grants were announced on Tuesday 31 May last and the total allocation of €166.6 million represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP.
While the priority in recent months has been to advance the successful applications, which number almost 2,900, under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage, my Department continues to support and guide grantees from past rounds as they manage their grants. This requires detailed engagement with all grantees and, where necessary, requests for extensions and changes of purpose of grants can usually be accommodated.
Following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. This Review has now been published and is available on the Department’s website.
Now that the Review has been finalised, I have asked my officials to draft the "Guide to Making an Application" for the 2023 round to reflect the recommendations in the Review. Once completed, the Guide will be published on my Department's website.
Furthermore, my officials and I continue to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to the launch of the next cycle of the SCEP.
In relation to the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Scheme (LSSIF), Minister Martin and I are currently also 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 and in the context of budgetary and NDP review discussions. Once these discussions are concluded, I will provide an update in respect of the LSSIF.
39. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide funding to Cork City Council to source and provide pitches for Glanmire Ladies Football Club. [23535/23]
View answerIn relation to my Department's responsibilities, 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. Grants are available to sports clubs, voluntary and community groups, national governing bodies of sport, and local authorities.
While the Programme funds a broad range of projects, the Programme does not fund the purchase of land or buildings. Full details of the Programme and the type of projects funded can be found at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie . It should be noted that applications can be submitted by any sports club for sports equipment even in cases where they do not own land. In addition, clubs who do not own land or have a registered lease can apply for capital funding of up to €50,000 provided the owner of the land confirms that he/she has no intention of taking the facility from the club for a minimum of 5 years.
A separate tax relief scheme for donations to sports clubs may be used by any sports club or organisations to assist in funding the acquisition of land or a building, developing facilities or purchasing fixed non-personal equipment for sports activities, or repaying a loan for any of these purposes. More information in this regard can be found at www.revenue.ie .
