Written Answers Nos. 61-83
61. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the status of the Programme for Government commitment in respect of the roadmap for digital creative industries; when a plan is expected for the future of Creative Ireland, which concluded in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9170/23]
View answerThe Creative Ireland Programme is an all-of-Government cultural initiative led by my Department that seeks to deploy creativity to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. In December 2022 the Government approved the extension of the Programme for a further 5 years from 2023-2027. The delivery of this programme across the five pillars of Creative Youth; Creative Communities; Creative Health and Wellbeing; Creative Climate Action and Sustainability and Creative Industries demonstrates in itself the depth of the value of creativity to our society.
The addition of the Creative Industries pillar in this second iteration of the Programme recognises the importance of creativity as a means to deliver commercial success and employment. Within this pillar, the commitment in the Programme for Government to produce a Roadmap for the Digital Creative Industries is being progressed. This work will build on the success of the existing Audio Visual Plan Action Plan and is being led by my Department in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment with critical inputs from the Department of Further & Higher Education, Innovation, Research & Science and the Department of Community & Rural Development.
The Roadmap, which will be published this summer, will set out a framework through which Government Departments and enterprise agencies can collaborate with Ireland’s digital creative industries in a concerted and integrated way to realise the potential of this exciting sector.
Furthermore, I recently announced the recipients of support from the Creative Communities Economic Action Fund for 2023. A total of just over €418,000 has been allocated to 5 projects covering areas such as digital games and virtual reality. Building on the work undertaken in the first round of support in 2022, this funding will continue to develop creative economies at local level.
62. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil sé i gceist aici ardú breise eile a cheadú i mbliana do na teaghlaigh a choinníonn scoláirí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge leis an ráta íocaíochta a chur ar chomhréir leis an íocaíocht a bhí ann sa bhliain 2008, arna choigeartú don bhoilsciú ó shin le go mbeidh sé níos tarraingtí do theaghlaigh na scoláirí a choinneáil, agus á chur san áireamh go mbeidh an t-airgead ar fáil ag an Roinn de bharr laghdú ar líon na dtithe atá ag coinneáil Gaeilgeoirí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [23195/23]
View answerCeadaíodh ardú ar an deontas laethúil a íoctar le teaghlaigh faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge a chuireann lóistín ar fáil do lucht freastal na gColáistí Gaeilge anuraidh ó €10 go €12 - sin ardú de 20%. Anuas air sin, ceadaíodh ardú ó €2,000 go €6,000 ar an deontas tosaithe atá ar fáil do theaglaigh a chláraíonn faoin scéim do chéad uair agus do theaghlaigh atá imithe as an gcóras le tréimhse chúig bhliana agus atá ag iarraidh athchlárú faoin scéim. Clúdaíonn an deontas seo costais a bhaineann le measúnú sábháilteacht dóiteáin a dhéanamh ar an teach, mar aon le costais a bhaineann le trealaimh faoi leith chun lóistín a chur ar fáil.
Níor mhiste a lua chomh maith gur fhógair mé le gairid go bhfuil cead anois ag teaghlaigh atá cáilithe faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge uaslíon de 16 scoláire a choinneáil ar íostas leo ach an spás sin a bheith ar fáil acu. Sin méadú ó 12 go 16 scoláire - rud a chiallaíonn go mbeidh deis ag teaghlaigh ioncam breise a shaothrú dá bharr.
Mar is gnáth, bíonn mo Roinn i gcónaí ag faire amach ar aon deis chun tuilleadh fós a dhéanamh ar leas earnáil na gcoláistí Gaeilge.
63. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what engagement her Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) in regards to the hire car shortage and increased rental costs that are impacting on rural tourism in County Wexford and beyond; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23704/23]
View answerOfficials of my Department and Fáilte Ireland meet with representatives of the Tourism Sector including the Car Rental Council of Ireland (CRCI) on a monthly basis. These meetings are hosted by Fáilte Ireland and focus on the key issues facing the sector and how the Department and Fáilte Ireland can assist with challenges industry are facing.
The Hospitality and Tourism Forum established during the pandemic meets regularly. I co-chair the forum along with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Forum provides a platform for structured engagement between the tourism and hospitality sectors and the relevant Government Departments where key issues can be discussed with a view of identifying practical solutions. The Forum is due to meet again in the coming weeks and the Car Rental Council of Ireland is represented in this Forum.
While my Department has no regulatory function in relation to the car rental sector, I am aware of the importance of the car rental fleet and indeed other transport modes to our tourism ecosystem, particularly rural tourism. However, international supply chain issues continue to impact on the pipeline of new cars and the Irish car rental fleet remains significantly smaller than in 2019 due to contraction during Covid and the aforementioned global supply issues.
Unfortunately, this is not within the immediate control of Government and there are no quick solutions.
I continue to urge all components of the wider tourism ecosystem to be mindful of the long-term impact of pricing on the value proposition which is critical to Ireland's ability to attract and retain tourists.
64. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Future of Media Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23450/23]
View answerFollowing the publication of Future of Media Commission Report in July last year, Government established an Implementation Group, chaired by my Department, to assess how best to implement the Commission’s recommendations, which were accepted by Government and to prepare an implementation plan with timeframes for delivery. The Group was also asked to consider the most appropriate structure and format for further engagement with sectoral stakeholders.
The Group have completed this initial phase of their work, and on 18th January last, Government approved the Future of Media Commission Report: Implementation Strategy and Action Plan, which was published that day. The Commission's Report and the Government's Action Plan form a blueprint for how we can enable the continued development of public service media and valuable public service content across the media sector in Ireland. The Group will continue to support, monitor and report on the implementation of the Plan.
In addition to the Implementation Group, and in response to the recommendation to introduce a new public funding model for public service media, Government also established a Technical Working Group to examine the necessary reform and enhancement of the TV Licence system. The Group, which is also chaired by my Department, began its work in September 2022 and has submitted their report to me, which I am currently considering and will bring to Cabinet soon.
A cornerstone of the Future of Media Commission’s recommendations is the establishment of a new body with a wider regulatory and developmental functions. Coimisiún na Meán was formally established on 15th March under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. An Coimisiún will provide the regulatory and developmental framework to support the implementation of many of the Commission’s recommendations, and the Broadcasting Commissioner and Media Development Commissioner in particular will play a significant role in delivering on the Government’s implementation plan.
As part of the implementation arrangements set out in the report, a Stakeholder group comprising members from the industry and other relevant stakeholders, as set out by the Commission, has been established. The first meeting of the group took place in February this year.
Since the publication of the Commission’s Report, progress has been made on the implementation of a number of recommendations, including:
• the transposition of the Copyright Directive by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment;
• the Defamation (Amendment) Bill has been included in the Government’s Legislation Programme, and the Department of Justice published the General Scheme of the Bill on March 28th;
• the introduction of a zero rate of VAT for newspapers as part of the Budget 2023 taxation measures, which came into effect from 1st of January;
• a cost-benefit analysis of Section 481 was completed by the Department of Finance, and as a result, an extension of Section 481 supports was agreed to the end of 2028; and,
• the provision of €6 million for the Media Fund for 2023 with the priority being the rollout of Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes this year. Following consultations, my Department is currently developing a policy paper in relation to the aforementioned schemes, and subsequent to my consideration and approval, the Department will engage with Coimisiún na Meán in relation to their intended rollout before year-end.
65. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the arts funding provided to groups in County Meath in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11465/23]
View answerThe Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based initiative within my Department designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. In 2022, Creative Ireland supported the delivery of over 40 creative projects throughout County Meath. In 2022, I allocated over €153,000 (including a contribution from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage - €32,258) to Meath County Council under Creative Communities to support their programming and delivery of creative initiatives as part of their implementation of their Culture and Creativity Strategy. A further €31,000 was allocated to Meath County Council to support the delivery of Cruinniú na nÓg on 11th June 2022 – the national day of free creative activities for children and young people under 18 years, at local level.
In partnership with Age Friendly Ireland, I allocated €174,000 to support initiatives in support of creative engagement for older people’s health and wellbeing. As part of the Creativity in Older Age scheme 2022, I allocated €49,000 to creative projects in Meath that will enhance the health and wellbeing of Ireland’s older people as they emerged from the pandemic.
The Creative Communities Economic Action Fund provides local authorities with the resources to develop innovative projects which seek to leverage the potential of the creative industries in supporting local and regional economic development, the Harnessing Culture, Connecting the Dots project in Kells was allocated over €74,000. This project will enable the Kells Printing Works and Centre of Typography, the Courthouse Cultural Hub and other stakeholders to establish a learning centre based on letterpress printing for third-level students, the print industry and tourists. More information of these and other events is available on the Creative Ireland website www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/meath/
In 2022, I allocated €10m to the Local Live Performance Programming scheme (LLPPS Phase 3 &4) to facilitate programming of live performances from January to Halloween, animating town centres for local communities. This allowed for the procurement by local authorities of performances by local performers. Meath County Council participated in both phases of this scheme in 2022 and received funding of €263,600 towards programming costs.
Under the Outdoor Public Space Scheme 2021, Meath County Council was awarded €250,000 towards a project to install a moveable cover over the public space outside Solstice Arts Centre in Navan., providing a new and unique outdoor performance space.
Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland with record €130m annual funding for the Arts Council now in place for the third year running. The Arts Council decisions database gives a listing of 2008-2022 funding decisions. This can be interrogated by location and is available at the following link https://www.artscouncil.ie/funding-decisions/. Funding decisions are also routinely published in the Arts Council newsletter, and historical decisions are recorded in the Arts Council's annual reports which are also available online.
Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres used by the artistic communities was initiated and funded by local authorities. My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist and maintain these arts and cultural facilities including those located in County Meath. Funding is administered through applications received for specific Grant Schemes. Also supported annually under this subhead are smaller capital schemes. The Music Capital Scheme is managed by Music Network and funds the purchase of musical instruments by professional and amateur individuals and groups. Details of all capital funding is provided on my Department's website showing the grantee and the annual amounts paid by county ach year. www.gov.ie/en/publication/b1eab-creative-arts-grants-and-funding-previous-schemes/#cultural-development-expenditure.
My Department also operates a number of annual schemes for local and regional museums and festivals around the country which include
- The Co-operation with Northern Ireland Funding Scheme.
- The Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme
- The Mobility of Collections Scheme
- The Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme
Details of these funding initiatives including the 2022 allocations can be viewed at the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/f2ed0-culture-grants-and-funding/
My Department also provides funding to support Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann which is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music both at community and national level. Annual funding is provided to CCÉ for its work in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture.
As Minister with responsibility for leading the co-ordination of the Decade of Centenaries Programme, I allocated funding in 2022 to support the commemorative programme to deliver rich and diverse national and local programmes marking the significant centenaries arising in 2022. Many of these investment programmes are delivered through the local authorities including Meath and further details can be viewed at this link www.decadeofcentenaries.com/local-authorities/
66. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide her response to the recommendation in the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media’s report Working Conditions - and Skills Shortages in Ireland’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector - that she ‘engage with Cabinet colleagues with a view to nominating a single Government Department to retain direct oversight of and responsibility for all aspects of Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector, to include working conditions and training and recruitment.’ [23339/23]
View answerI welcome the recent publication by the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media on Working Conditions and Skills shortages in Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector.
The Report makes recommendations which pertain to the responsibilities and functions of a number of Government Departments and agencies. I was pleased to participate in an important debate on the Report in Seanad Eireann on 22 February.
In addressing the Committee’s recommendation that I engage with Cabinet colleagues with a view to nominating a single Government Department to retain direct oversight of and responsibility for all aspects of Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector, I suggested that we might have further engagement on the recommendation. In response, the Committee has recommended that it would be desirable that my Department consult with relevant stakeholders within the tourism and hospitality sectors in order to gain the industry’s direct perspective on these matters. The Committee further suggests that such a consultation could form the basis of a feasibility study to be conducted by Departmental officials, which could assist me and other Cabinet colleagues in considering the form in which a governing and/or development body for Ireland’s hospitality sector might be established. The Committee also requests that, in the event of further work being undertaken as a result of the Committee’s report recommendations, it would be kept apprised of developments as regularly as is practicable.
My officials are considering these suggestions and I look forward to engaging further with the Committee and stakeholders on the issue.
67. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide a breakdown for the moneys spent annually, and per project, as a result of the per cent for art scheme since the beginning of the century; and if her Department intends to conduct an audit of the operation of the per cent for the art scheme. [23714/23]
View answerThe Percent for Art Scheme is an initiative, whereby Government Departments and public bodies may invest up to one percent of the total budget for capital investment projects in public art. The public art investment under the scheme is controlled by defining investment bands and by applying maximum amounts which may be invested. The funding for the scheme is met from within existing project budgets in the Government Departments and public bodies and therefore this information is not notified to or held by my Department. To assist project managers, guidelines on the scheme are available on the Public Art Websites and set out how to operate the scheme and provide a common national approach to its implementation. Details of the projects are also available on the website at www.publicart.ie/
68. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to discuss the need for a state-of-the-art sports facility in Alfie Byrne Park (details supplied). [23663/23]
View answerAny decision in relation to the leasing of property by Dublin City Council is a matter for the local authority and I have no role in this regard.
In 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. 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 target the investment in disadvantaged areas.
As well as being open to individual sports clubs, applications are also accepted from local authorities. and Dublin City Council has previously received significant funding for sports facilities projects in the vicinity of Alfie Byrne Road.
With regard to larger projects, the 2018 National Sports Policy provided for the establishment of a new 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. The first allocations were announced in January 2020 and, to date, approximately €86.4 million has been allocated to 33 projects. The projects that received provisional allocations and the amounts provisionally awarded to them are published on the Department's website and include a number of local authority led projects.
In relation to any capital assistance towards a new sports facility at Alfie Byrne Park, it will be open to Dublin City Council to make a future application under either the SCEP or the LSSIF. If the clubs referred to by the Deputy secure a lease on property it will also be open to them to apply directly for SCEP funding. Any applications will be considered on merit, based on the relevant scoring system for the relevant round of the SCEP or LSSIF. As the Deputy will be aware, however, the schemes favour projects that will increase participation, share facilities amongst a number of sports and/or clubs and priority is always given to applications from disadvantaged areas.
69. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the consultations to date between her Department and its agencies with their counterparts in Northern Ireland in relation to the development of cross-Border tourism projects under the Peace Plus Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23675/23]
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 for cross-border tourism related projects, after which a joint tourism proposal will be submitted to the SEUPB for consideration for programme funding.
71. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department would engage with a local committee (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23658/23]
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. Fáilte Ireland is of course available to engage with and advise those involved in the tourism sector and I suggest that this should be a logical first step for the proposed project.
73. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the short-term tourist letting Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11466/23]
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 currently arranging 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.
