Written Answers Nos. 64-73
64. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé mhéad limistéar pleanála teanga nach bhfuil oifigeach pleanála teanga fostaithe iontu faoi láthair; soiléiriú ar an anailís atá faoi chaibidil ag an Roinn maidir leis an ábhar sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [45680/23]
View answerIs iad ne heagrais forbartha pobail atá aitheanta mar cheanneagraíochtaí pleanála teanga atá freagrach as na pleananna teanga a fheidhmiú sna 26 Limistéar Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta (LPT).
Tuigtear d’Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil folúntais ann d'Oifigigh Pleanála Teanga in dhá Limistéar Pleanála Teanga as an 26 LPT faoi láthair, sin iad LPT Ráth Chairn agus Baile Ghib agus LPT Thoraí. Tá próiseas earcaíochta ar siúl san dá LPT sin le tamall anuas agus táthar ag súil go mbeidh ceapacháin OPT á ndéanamh sna seachtainí amach romhainn.
65. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has had discussions with major film and TV studios on potential plans to expand their operations in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45606/23]
View answerThe Irish screen sector is a growing one and Ireland’s offerings present significant opportunities to the major US studios as well as film and television companies everywhere to locate their projects here.
Earlier this year, I led a trade mission to Los Angeles and San Diego to promote the Irish screen industry, together with Screen Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the I.D.A., and the Department of Foreign Affairs. This Trade mission was part of the Government’s St Patrick’s Day programme with the aim to build on the recent critical success for the Irish screen industry and the recognition of Irish talent on the world’s stage.
During the trade mission, I had meetings with world leading US studios and production companies including Sony and Disney, representatives from Marvel, Searchlight and Lucasfilm. I also met with the Sustainability Production Alliance which includes representatives from Netflix, NBC Universal, Sony, Paramount and Disney.
The trade mission was about reinforcing the Government’s support for Irish film and artists, boosting investment, and of course promoting Irish tourist destinations in one of Ireland’s most important markets.
I have a planned Ministerial visit to New York next month to launch the National Archives Exhibition entitled On an Equal Footing with All, Ireland at the League of Nations 1923-1946 that will run from 20 November -1 December 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. Among other networking possibilities and in consultation with Screen Ireland, I am examining opportunities to meet senior officials from major film production companies during that visit. More details of this visit will be announced by my Department in due course.
The Audiovisual Action Plan sets out the Government's high-level, strategic priorities over to develop a vibrant media production and audiovisual sector bringing new economic opportunities across Ireland, through increased Government support. Building relationships with major US studios and producers is a critical component of that endeavour.
Screen Ireland is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. Screen Ireland has an Industry Building Programme Manager based in Los Angeles at present to promote Ireland and Irish companies and Irish talent to the LA based film and television industry. The major film production companies are based on the West Coast of the United States and this is therefore a major focus for Screen Ireland.
66. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to report on tourism figures for summer 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45083/23]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published inbound tourism statistics for June and July 2023 and these can be accessed on the CSO website Inbound Tourism - CSO - Central Statistics Office. These are the first releases in a new monthly statistical series on inbound tourism to Ireland.
This series replaces the former Overseas Travel series and the Tourism and Travel series of the pre-COVID era. The Inbound Tourism series is compiled using a different sampling methodology and a different mode of data collection. The CSO advises that the inbound tourism series should be seen as a new and different statistical series, rather than a continuation or update of the Overseas Travel series and the Tourism and Travel series.
The first release of the new series provided data for the second quarter in 2023. The CSO reports close to 1.7 million tourists taking overnight trips to Ireland between April and June 2023. These inbound tourists stayed 12.7 million nights in Ireland spending close to €2 billion.
The CSO reported a further 650,200 tourists took overnight trips to Ireland during July 2023. These inbound tourists stayed 5,643,800 nights in the country spending €875.4 million during that month.
Fáilte Ireland’s tourism barometer strategic research and insight findings from September this year also indicate a better year in terms of visitor levels with demand buoyant and the majority of businesses expecting more overseas visitors when compared to 2022.
Looking ahead, Tourism Ireland will roll out an extensive, highly targeted programme of promotions around the world over the coming months. It will highlight the many reasons to visit the island of Ireland during autumn and winter – including festivals like Púca, Derry Halloween, Wexford Festival Opera and New Year’s Festival Dublin. The autumn "Fill your heart with Ireland" campaign will get underway in key overseas markets, celebrating the different ways in which Ireland fills the hearts of our visitors and of locals and inviting potential overseas holidaymakers to come and experience those for themselves.
67. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 88 den 13 Iúil 2023, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an obair athbhreithniúcháin atá idir lámha ag Údarás na Gaeltachta i ndáil leis na córais agus leis an gcur chuige atá i ngníomh ag an Údarás faoi láthair chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliantchuideachtaí agus i ndáil leis na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riar; cathain a fhoilseofar toradh na hanailíse; cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an scéim phíolótach; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [45678/23]
View answerTá curtha in iúl dom ag Údarás na gaeltachta go bhfuil an t-athbhreithniú a bhí á dhéanamh ag eagraíocht críochnaithe anois agus go bhfuil mór chuid na moltaí a d'eascair as curtha i bhfeidhm.
Tuigim go bhfuil cruth do scéim nua tacaíochta forbartha, atá dírithe ar úsáid na Gaeilge a spreagadh i measc na bhfostaithe sna cliantchomhlachtaí. Ta curtha in iúl ag an Údarás go ndíreoidh an scéim nua tacaíochta atá á mholadh ar struchtúr agus gníomhaíochtaí tacaíochta leanúnach a thairiscint dá chliantchomhlachtaí ina bhfuil líon ard fostaithe. Beidh an scéim á plé ag cruinnithe de bhord an Údaráis idir seo agus deireadh na bliana. Ach cead an Bhoird a bheith faighte chuige, táthar ag súil leis an scéim a fhógairt agus a thairiscint do na cliantchomhlachtaí sa bhliain nua.
68. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on the National Sports Policy 2018 - 2027, in particular projects or initiatives supported in County Meath as part of it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45586/23]
View answerImplementation of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 (NSP) continues to proceed satisfactorily and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, half way through the 10-year lifespan of the policy, some 80% of its 57 actions have either been completed already or are well on the way to completion.
Since the launch of the NSP in mid-2018, the Government has placed a special emphasis on the need to increase investment in sport at all levels, to support the delivery of initiatives and projects in every county in the country, including County Meath, which have benefitted both grassroots and high performance athletes. In the National Sports Policy we outlined our aim to double the level of Exchequer funding for sport by 2027. In 2018, at the start of the NSP, the budget for sport was €111 million. With a sports budget of €183 million for 2024, we are well on track to achieve our investment target. Since 2018, the budget is up by almost 65%.
Notwithstanding the challenging and disruptive impact of the pandemic, significant progress has been made on each of the NSP's three high-level goals, namely increased participation, more excellence and improved capacity. It is acknowledged however that further progress will need to be made over the remaining four years of the policy and indeed beyond that. For instance, although sport participation levels are improving post-pandemic, the 60% target remains a challenging and ambitious one. In addition, there are outstanding governance issues to be addressed and these will continue to receive priority policy attention.
The 2024 budget allocation involves an increase of almost €7.4 million in Sport Ireland’s budget and will allow Sport Ireland to increase its funding support in a number of very important areas, including core funding for National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Women in sport funding.
• An additional €2 million will be made available under the Women in sport programme. The Government is committed to ensuring that we continue to provide increased opportunities for female participation in sport at all levels. This increased level of funding will allow NGBs and Local Sports Partnerships to deliver those opportunities so that we can eliminate the gender participation gap, which is still at 5%.
• We fully recognise the increasing pressures that our sporting organisations are under and so we are providing an additional €2 million in core funding to support them in carrying out their valuable work.
• In line with the aims of the High Performance Strategy 2021-2032 and the NSP, we are also providing an additional €1 million for high performance sport. This will support Team Ireland in their preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and continue to develop the coaching and pathways support envisaged in our National High Performance Strategy.
• The additional funding being provided to Sport Ireland will also support programmes that assist those with a disability and the most disadvantaged in our society to actively participate in sport.
More strategically, my Department is currently developing a new Sports Action Plan which will cover the remaining four years of the NSP. This plan, which I hope to publish early next year, will include a strong focus on a number of key areas such as early childhood participation supports as well as the further development of the contribution of the educational sector to maximising children’s physical activity and sports participation levels. The availability of sports facilities will also be an important policy consideration in that particular context and indeed more generally in communities across the country.
69. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45525/23]
View answerUEFA announced on Tuesday 10 October that Ireland will jointly host the UEFA EURO 2028 Championship with the UK. The announcement presents a wonderful opportunity to showcase Ireland and our world-class tourism and sport offerings to Europe and the wider world. The award of the tournament to Ireland and the UK rewards the intensive North-South and East West co-operation in the preparation, planning and presentation of the bid.
It will be the largest sporting event Ireland and the UK has ever jointly staged and the largest single international sporting event held in Ireland.
An economic impact study was conducted on the value of the tournament. Taking into account that Ireland may host six games, in Dublin, it is estimated that the tournament should realise a discounted Gross Value Added (GVA) for Ireland of €189 million in 2022 prices. When benefits that accrue in subsequent years are taken into account the benefit is estimated to rise to a value of €241 million. Allowing for costs of approximately €65.6 million in 2022 prices this will yield a significant return on investment to the State.
The budget, which includes items such as security, local authority, transport and some stadia costs, will be kept under review, and all costs will be monitored, controlled and appropriately scrutinised throughout delivery to ensure value for money.
The State's investment in the Championship will be spread across a number of Departments and Agencies, with the bulk of the funding requirement falling due in 2027 and 2028. The key partners in this regard will be the Department of Justice (with regard to policing and security costs), Dublin City Council (fanzone sites, dressing and other infrastructure), the Department of Transport and my own Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
All costs arising will be addressed as part of the normal Estimates processes in the years leading up to the event.
The close and positive co-operation between all five jurisdictions was crucial in allowing all the bid partners to jointly support the submission of the bid. Now that the Championships have been awarded to Ireland and the UK there will be continuing and ongoing engagement between the jurisdictions between now and 2028. Discussions have already commenced among the partnership on the planning and structures required for the hosting of a successful Championship.
My Department will continue to work closely with the Football Association of Ireland, Dublin City Council and other Government Departments and agencies as well as with our UK partners as plans continue to be developed.
70. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to list any initiatives, projects and developments planned by her Department for Dublin's north inner city due to begin in 2024. [45743/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy of the following initiatives, projects and developments planned by my Department for north inner city Dublin in 2024.
Culture
In September 2021 my Department published the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce. It is a Cross-Government Report containing 36 actions across a broad range of issues associated with the Night-Time Economy, all with the aim of increasing the diversity of events, increasing cultural opportunities and encouraging innovation and creativity in the Night-Time Economy in our towns and cities across the country.
In 2024, my Department is providing funding to recruit a Night-Time Advisor in Dublin City. The Night-Time Advisor will work with businesses, communities, venues, residents and artists to create a safer and vibrant night-life for all and bring vitality back to our city in a safe and sustainable way.
My Department will continue to work in partnership in 2024 with Dublin City Council and together, along with the new Night-Time Advisor, to develop new initiatives in Dublin city, including the north inner city, to ensure that all of the actions in the Report are progressed and that our Night-Time Economy can grow and thrive.
Creative Ireland
The Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Climate Action Fund II: Agents of Change has provided a total of €342,000 in funding, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, to three projects based in north inner city Dublin and the surrounding areas, commencing in 2024. The grantees are Context Studios Ltd (in partnership with Cabra Sustainable Energy Community), Islander Architects (in partnership with TU Dublin) and Global Action Plan, who will work with three Ballymun-based organisations.
The Creative Youth Nurture Fund is a pilot scheme that will support youth-led cultural, artistic and creative engagement by young people. Foróige was one of the organisations awarded this fund and will run a project titled “City Instincts” from 2023 to 2025. Although exact locations have not been confirmed at this development phase, part of the programme will run in north inner city Dublin.
The Creative Communities initiative provides funding to Dublin City Council to support the culture and creativity team to implement an annual programme of events and initiatives that align with their culture and creativity strategy. Additionally, my Department will continue to support Cruinniú na nÓg in June 2024 where children and young people will get to participate in this national day of free creative activity.
Sport
Sport Ireland, as the agency responsible for the development of sport in Ireland, will be developing its plans for the 2024 budget allocations in the coming period and will be announcing relevant details to the key stakeholders in due course. All counties will benefit from this funding.
Capital funding is provided by my Department for sports projects under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund and the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. Many projects in Dublin City have benefitted from such support in recent years and all allocations are published on the www.gov.ie website. It is however, a matter for the grantees to advance all relevant projects.
71. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline how the additional €10 million provided for overseas marketing of Ireland as a holiday destination in Budget 2024 will be spent. [45744/23]
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.
In Budget 2024 I was delighted to maintain additional funding of €10 million for overseas marketing of Ireland as a leading holiday destination. I firmly believe that sustaining investment in marketing campaigns is crucial to ensure Ireland’s share of voice is retained for longer-term success in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
In relation to how the additional funding will be spent next year, this is an operational matter for Tourism Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to Tourism Ireland for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
72. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she engages with other Government Departments and/or State agencies to ensure that there is sufficient hotel accommodation in rural communities in order to enhance the economic potential of every region. [41279/23]
View answerThe importance of the tourism sector to the Irish economy and to communities in every corner of Ireland is well understood. My responsibility is for the development of overall tourism policy and the sustainable development of the tourism sector. A key part of this is ensuring there is a balanced regional supply and an overall development of a broad mix of accommodation on offer.
To determine the current profile of accommodation in the tourism sector Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, is currently working on Accommodation Audits that will establish a baseline for existing capacity and provide gap analysis in each destination and region. As part of the roll-out of all Destination Experience Development Plans, Fáilte Ireland will audit and map out current accommodation stock. This will include a quality and gap analysis for additional accommodation development on a county-by-county basis. Fáilte Ireland will use these audits to inform Local Authorities as they shape their own tourism accommodation strategies. Officials from my Department are also engaged in policy and strategy development with regard to the future accommodation needs for the tourism sector and the work being done by Fáilte Ireland will be an important input in this regard.
The war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is engaged across Government concerning temporary accommodation for those in need of shelter and is responsible for all contracted accommodation used to house Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) and other International Protection (IP) applicants.
In June 2023, Fáilte Ireland carried out a detailed analysis of data provided by DCEDIY concerning the bed stock under contract to accommodate Ukrainian BOTBs and IPs and established that 13% of the tourism stock nationally that is registered with Fáilte Ireland was under contract to DCEDIY. An additional quantum of tourism-type accommodation that is not registered with Fáilte Ireland is also contracted to DCEDIY. This analysis also identified that, in five counties, more than 20% of the registered stock is used for humanitarian purposes, peaking at 33% in Clare.
On foot of this information my Department has, at the Senior Officials Group on Ukraine, which is led by the Department of the Taoiseach, communicated the potential challenges arising for the tourism ecosystem, particularly in those parts of the country where high proportions of the tourism accommodation stock are directed to humanitarian purposes.
As part of the Budget settlement that I have secured for tourism in 2024, up to €10 million has been identified for a comprehensive programme of supports targeted at downstream tourism businesses experiencing particular trading challenges linked to the reduction in footfall to activities and attractions in regions most impacted by tourism bed stock displacement.
This programme of supports includes investment in sustainable tourism development and promotion, industry digitalisation, promotion of domestic tourism and festivals and recruitment and retention initiatives.
I have also asked Fáilte Ireland to engage with impacted businesses to consider the scope for a specific business support scheme that could help the most affected tourism activities and attractions and to report back to me on options and recommendations in four weeks’ time. A strong evidence-base will be critical in this regard and I have asked the tourism sector, particularly activities and attractions, to engage with Fáilte Ireland in order to provide direct and verifiable evidence of how tourism accommodation stock displacement has negatively impacted on their businesses.
73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the interaction his Department has had to date with the statutory committee set up under the Official Languages Act 2021 to plan for the requirement under the Act that 20% of public servants being recruited from 2030 will have competency to do business with the public in Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45688/23]
View answerFirstly it is acknowledged that this question was accepted on transfer from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and that the Deputy therefore has a particular interest in the interactions between that Department and the secretariat of the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee provided by my Department. The below information is therefore given in that context.
The Irish Language Services Advisory Committee was established by my Department in June 2022 in accordance with section 18A of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. The Committee’s primary focus during its first two years is the preparation of the first National Plan for Irish-medium Public Services to ensure its delivery by the statutory deadline of 19 June 2024.
In line with their functions under the Act, the Committee opted to commission research in this regard at its first meeting and a research contract was subsequently agreed with the University of Galway at the end of 2022. The research team presented their work to date to the Committee during the summer and are due to present a further progress update at its upcoming meeting at the end of this month. This research and the Plan overall will look to:
• identify the gaps in the current provision of public services through the medium of Irish and propose strategies to address them;
• identify the public services provided in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas (“LPAs”) and specify strategies to ensure that Irish is the working language of those offices located in LPAs and that these services are provided through the medium of Irish;
• identify the current level of Irish language competence in the public sector; and
• make recommendations on strategies for recruiting individuals who are competent in Irish.
The preparation of the National Plan is in line with achieving the overarching objective of the Act, which is that 20% of recruits to the public sector will be competent in Irish by 31 December 2030. Furthermore, a specific commitment is given in the government's Civil Service Renewal 2030 strategy to implement this plan.
A wide range of stakeholders, at a senior level, are represented through the organisations and members included in this statutory committee – including the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and the Public Appointments Service. Representation on the Committee was carefully selected to ensure maximum impact and buy-in across the public sector, particularly in the context of central recruitment for Government Department's and offices. The work of the Committee will be an important element in supporting all Departments and public bodies in meeting their statutory obligations and ensuring the full and successful implementation of the Act.
Of course another key area in achieving the statutory targets included in the Act is and will be the development of current Irish language competence in the public sector and supporting employees in using the language in the workplace. In this context, existing civil servants are being encouraged to pursue Irish language training courses via OneLearning - the Learning and Development Centre for the civil service – which falls under the auspices of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. These courses are provided under contract by Gaelchultúr with testing of standards achieved by participants being undertaken by Maynooth University using the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (“TEG”) framework. This certification is of particular importance, with the Common European Framework for Languages, on which TEG is based, being mentioned specifically in the Act. TEG qualifications will therefore be of particular value in the coming years for both learners and employers alike, as individuals with particular language skills will be sought for a wide variety of diverse roles across the public service.
With regard to other educational initiatives, the Advanced Irish Language Skills Initiative, funded by my Department, is also intended to ensure the availability of qualified persons with Irish language skills to meet recruitment needs in Ireland and the EU. It currently supports a range of specialised third level Irish language courses in areas such as translation, interpreting and law, with eight courses now available in five different institutions. Aside from this initiative, a broad range of courses is available in Irish in our higher education institutions, with the Department understanding that student returns statistics show 106 courses available in higher education in Irish with 2,510 enrolments in the past academic year.
Given the statutory targets under the Act, it is now intended to review and expand the functions of the Advanced Irish Language Skills Initiative to focus more on third level education and recruitment needs in Ireland as a result of the Act and the Department is working towards initiating this review before the end of the year.
Through the additional allocation of €0.5m secured by my Department under Budget 2024, a number of further initiatives to support efforts to embed the provisions of the Act across the public service are also being explored and progressed, namely:
• establishing an Irish language network to support Irish language speakers and learners, who are already working in the public service, to use the language in their work;
• establishing an Apprenticeship Scheme, in collaboration with DFHERIS. My Department has committed to the development of a Speisialtóir Gaeilge (Irish Language Specialist) apprenticeship programme at Executive Officer level in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship, 2021 to 2025. This programme is due to be rolled out in Q3 of 2025;
• developing a wide range of other support measures for public bodies in relation to the implementation of the Act; and
• fostering awareness of the Act in general among the public and public bodies, starting with a major awareness campaign in the coming months regarding the significant employment opportunities that exist and will exist for those with Irish in the public sector, as a result of the Act.
To conclude, there has been, and continues to be, ongoing engagement between my Department and DFHERIS regarding strategic elements of the implementation of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021, particularly in relation to the development of the Apprenticeship Scheme for Speisialtóirí Gaeilge as mentioned above as well as on the intended review of the Advance Irish Language Skills Initiative. I look forward to furthering this co-operation in the coming period as we work together, on an all-of-Government basis, towards the full and successful implementation of the Official Languages Acts 2003 to 2021, and in particular towards achieving the ambitious recruitment target as noted in the Deputy's question.
