Vol. 1032 No. 3
7. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update in respect of the action plan for sport 2021-2023 and the Government target to have 40% female representation in the board membership of the national governing bodies of sport. [3562/23]
Will the Minister of State provide an update in respect of the action plan for sport 2021-2023 and the Government target to have 40% female representation on the board membership of national governing bodies of sport?
Addressing women's participation at all levels in sport is an important element of the national sports policy and a core priority for me, the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and the Government as a whole. That includes women in leadership positions such as board members of national governing bodies, NGBs.
The sports action plan sets a target for all NGBs to achieve 40% gender representation on their boards by the end of this year. It is a priority to enable women to take more leadership positions in sport and the 40% target reflects this prioritisation. The most recent board composition snapshot, which was published in December by Sport Ireland, shows that the average percentage of women on boards of national governing bodies of sport has increased from 24% in 2019 to 36% in 2022. For local sports partnerships, the average percentage has increased by 2% over the past year with women accounting for 39% of board members. The snapshot also highlights that 33 sporting organisations have already achieved 40% or more female representation on their boards.
Sport Ireland will continue to provide support to NGBs towards achieving the essential target of 40% and will monitor and report on progress. Achieving the 40% target is one of Sport Ireland's grant funding priorities from this year onwards and the future funding of any NGB that fails to meet the target, by the end of this year, will be impacted. I acknowledge significant effort is being made by sporting bodies around gender diversity on their boards. Good progress has been made by many NGBs towards achieving the 40% target. However, a number of NGBs still have a way to go to meet the target and I encourage them to place a real focus on this task during the year. It is absolutely essential.
It is true that women have achieved major sporting success as of late but the push for greater gender representation in Irish sport is something in which we all must get involved. I see challenges myself. In Carlow, an issue that constantly comes up is securing female coaches for female teams. Another obstacle is Garda vetting. This is an enormous issue. On the ground there are challenges that mean there are situations in which young women cannot access sports locally because clubs do not have enough women coaches. What else does the Minister of State think we can do to support this on the ground? This is very important.
I welcome the Minister of State's statement. I also have figures to hand. The local sports partnership saw an increase of 2% over the past year, with females accounting for 39% of board members. However, The Irish Times reported that 17 NGBs have 20% or fewer women on their boards, including the so-called "big three", that is the IRFU with 13%, the FAI with 17%, and the GAA with 20%, as well as the board for Ireland's most successful Olympic sport, the Irish Athletic Boxing Association with only 17%. What else can we do? While I know the Minister of State is doing his best, we need to do more.
The Deputy is absolutely correct. I want to be clear to all the national governing bodies, including the big national governing bodies that, to be fair, are doing a lot for sport and women in sport. To be clear, the grant funding to those organisations is now closely aligned to our key policies, one of which is the achievement of 40% gender balance with female representation on the boards of NGBs. I have met some of these bodies - not all - and the importance of this has been on my agenda in every conversation I had so far.
This is only one step, albeit a very important step. If this target is not reached, there is no doubt there will be significant funding issues for those NGBs. My officials are beginning discussions with Sport Ireland as to how we do this. There is a range of funding sources from Sport Ireland, the Government, Irish Athletic Boxing Association and all levels that would be affected by this. We must support women in sport at every level; that is a start. However, we have to encourage women and allow them to come up through the ranks in organisations. That will be equally important.
I thank the Minister of State for his response. I was reading into this and speaking to woman about it. I know that support is being provided for dedicated leadership training programmes for women, including governance related, technical training, coaching, refereeing and team management. Sport Ireland is supposed to monitor NGB progress against targets and report annually on whether additional measures, such as gender quotas, are warranted.
On the targets, I know the Minister of State will follow up on this. It is important that we encourage the use of targets and that we make sure to meet our targets. We have some of the finest young women in the world who can offer so much. They are so proud of our Irish heritage and love to be involved in the different sports. We must ensure we pay, look after and encourage them. I know the Minister of State is absolutely committed to doing this.
I know the Deputy will be fighting for sports funding for Carlow.
Absolutely.
It would be no harm to remind the national governing bodies that the funding will be dependent on having representation at board level. We must fight for more facilities. Frankly, this summer is going to be like Italia 90, in some respects, with our women's soccer team in the World Cup. Any level of inequality would simply not be tolerated. We have to work to get more facilities because I expect, in soccer at least, that more women will be participating. I know the Deputy will be working hard in Carlow on that. Much works needs to be done. We have not made any decision as to where the significant funding cuts will be if boards do not meet these reasonable targets. I would not propose, nor have we made any decisions, to cut any of the women in sports funds.
No. Absolutely not.
That would go against the whole point of it. We have yet to make decisions on that.
8. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 17 November 2022, the status of the legacy framework arising from Galway 2020; when the framework will be published; the breakdown of the way that the remaining €1 million from her Department’s commitment to Galway 2020 will be spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3698/23]
This question relates to the legacy framework arising from Galway 2020. Can the Minister give me the status of that framework? Has it been published? Is there a breakdown of the way the €1 million that is left will be spent? Could the Minister give me full details relating to this? She knows the background to this issue. It was not just Covid or bad weather. There was a history prior to these events and the Department set up a special monitoring unit.
On 1 December last, I approved the allocation of the remaining €1 million from my Department's commitment to the Galway European Capital of Culture programme to support delivery of the programme under the proposed legacy framework.
It is expected that the legacy framework will be published on the website of Galway Culture Company, the successor trading entity to the Galway 2020 company, in the coming weeks. The website of Galway Culture Company, which is fully bilingual, has been live since last Monday and sets out the key high-level programme aims and actions under the legacy framework. The €1 million funding from my Department will be broken down to support the delivery of these programme aims as follows: €300,000 to facilitate EU and international relationships and funding, €500,000 to develop and support place-based cultural programming and €200,000 to provide supports to the cultural and creative sector.
Galway Culture Company, operating within Galway City Council and led by a board comprising local and regional leaders of organisations with a role and remit in the support of culture and creative industries in Galway, has already commenced work on facilitating EU and international relationships and funding. For example, it has established an ecosystem of EU supports comprising the key agencies on the board of the company. This inter-agency ecosystem is working to share knowledge and co-operate on EU funding applications. It has already been successful in the award of funding for the stimulating performance of ecosystems in creative territories and regional actors, SPECTRA, project under the Horizon Europe programme. This project is being led by the Western Development Commission in partnership with CREW, Atlantic Technological University and Galway Culture Company as well as a number of partners from other EU countries, including Germany, Bulgaria and Denmark.
Galway Culture Company is working to develop the legacy framework of Galway's designation as European Capital of Culture and to build on the learnings and outcomes of Galway's many European and global designations, including European Capital of Culture, UNESCO city of film, European Green Leaf city and European region of gastronomy.
Over the coming months, open calls will commence for projects under place-based cultural programming as well as the development of actions to support and enhance the capacity of the Galway region's cultural and creative sector. Regular updates on all actions and initiatives, as well as relevant EU and international funding opportunities, will be provided on the website of Galway Culture Company.
I do not know where to go with this language but I thank the Minister for her response. We had Galway 2020. A total of €15 million was committed by the Department. A total of €1 million is outstanding. That was for Galway 2020. I understand this company is gone as of this month and no longer exists and we now have Galway Culture Company. The only creativity here seems to involve the various organisations, including the organisation of the management of the city council, with regard to what they did with the €1 million. The 2020 has gone by the board.
The website of Galway Culture Company states that it was established to opportunities to engage with EU and international partners and local place-based programming that honours the relationships, buildings on the learnings - whatever that is - outcomes and legacies of Galway's many European and global designations, including European Capital of Culture, UNESCO city of film, European Green Leaf city and European region of gastronomy. I feel like saying "Mother of Jesus". What are we talking about here with regard to €1 million of a legacy in terms of infrastructure and artists on the ground getting money?
As I said, of that €1 million, €500,000 will be to develop and support place-based cultural programming, while €200,000 will be to provide supports to the cultural and creative sector. Galway Culture Company is working to develop the legal framework of Galway's designation as European Capital of Culture and build on the learnings and outcomes. It operates within Galway City Council and is led by a board comprising local and regional leaders of organisations with a role and remit in the support of culture and creative industries in Galway.
It is the strategic objective of Galway Culture Company to bring together key agencies and stakeholders to drive forward a collective creative vision for Galway through meaningful partnership and collaboration, so creativity is at the heart of that. It will seek to complement the work of the two local authorities in Galway by working with the cultural units in the city and county councils and will assist in the implementation of both arts plans and the cultural strategy.
I know the Minister's heart is in the right place and she has done a tremendous amount for artists. Here she is left with this gobbledegook regarding Galway Culture Company, which has just been formed by various groups in the west of Ireland. Where do the artists come into any of this? Forgive me for being so naive to think that 2020 was about enhancing artists, working with them on the ground and leaving a legacy - a legacy on many levels, including buildings just like was done in the city in Croatia. Nothing like that has happened. The Department set up a specific monitoring unit because of the debacle relating to the Pálás Cinema that cost €9 million plus at the time and is losing money. We were to learn. The word they keep using - learnings - is a dreadful word. It means nothing. The capital of culture no longer exists, the company no longer exists and a new entity is being created as we speak. It is longer than pregnancy. I have no idea what it is about except that it is gobbledegook. I ask the Minister to take a hands-on approach to this.
I looked at the website and if you look at the itemised breakdown of investment in the local cultural sector during the lifetime of the projects, you can see the investment in local arts.
The Deputy may be referring to physical infrastructure as legacy. The bid book for Galway 2020 upon which it was awarded the designation of Ireland's 2020 European Capital of Culture set out that any new cultural infrastructure to be delivered would be part of Galway's culture strategy 2016 to 2020, Everybody Matters, which is developed and managed by the local authorities. The bid book also stated that infrastructure was not part of the European Capital of Culture project, which would rely on existing infrastructure and infrastructure that came on stream between designation and delivery through existing plans and developments. Infrastructure is not and never has been part of the direct delivery and legacy of Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture. I am running out of time but I am happy to engage with the Deputy afterwards.
10. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén dáta faoina bhfoilseofar an tuarascáil maidir le stáisiún raidió trí Ghaeilge don aos óg atá geallta don mhí seo i bhfianaise é a bheith geallta roimh dheireadh na bliana seo caite, de réir freagraí atá tugtha aici ar mo chuid ceisteanna parlaiminte go dtí seo. [3671/23]
Baineann an cheist seo le tuarascáil atá ag an Aire maidir le stáisiún raidió trí Ghaeilge don aos óg atá geallta le bheith foilsithe an mhí seo. An mbeidh sí foilsithe?
Anuraidh, choimisiúnaigh Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann, in éineacht le Foras na Gaeilge agus le tacaíocht ó mo Roinnse, tionscadal taighde chun an leibhéal spéise i seirbhís raidió Gaeilge dírithe ar an aos óg a fháil amach.
Bhí dhá chéim ar leith sa tionscadal taighde. Ar an gcéad dul síos, Iorgadh tuairimí sampla ionadaíoch náisiúnta de dhaoine idir 15 agus 34 bliana d'aois maidir leis an spéis a bhí acu in éisteacht le stáisiún Gaeilge agus lena n-oscailteacht ina leith. Ba é an dara gné ná tuairimí phobal na Gaeilge a fháil maidir lena nósanna fuaime agus meán, an cineál ábhair fuaime, idir Bhéarla agus Ghaeilge, a bhfuil siad ag plé leis faoi láthair agus bearnaí a mheastar atá ann i soláthar ábhar Gaeilge.
Cé go raibh sé i gceist an taighde a chur i gcrích agus an tuarascáil a tháinig as a fhoilsiú roimh dheireadh na bliana seo caite, tuigim gur thóg cuid den obair allamuigh níos mó ama le críochnú ná mar a ceapadh ar dtús. Mar sin, níor cuireadh na dréacht-tuarascálacha faoi bhráid an údaráis ach i lár mhí na Nollag. Tuigim gur phléigh coiste comhairleach Gaeilge an údaráis na dréacht-tuarascálacha agus go bhfuil siad á n-ullmhú le foilsiú, rud atá beartaithe a dhéanamh sa chéad leath de mhí Feabhra.
Rinneadh an taighde chun an oiread tuisceana agus ab fhéidir a fháil ar an éileamh féideartha ar a leithéid de sheirbhís agus ar an gcineál ábhair a bheadh feiliúnach agus a bheadh ar fáil ar aon seirbhís nua. Cabhróidh sé seo le Coimisiún na Meán aon straitéisí nua ceadúnaithe a mheas mar chuid dá ghníomhaíochtaí rialála craolacháin chun a chinntiú go bhfreastalaíonn raon éagsúil seirbhísí craolacháin ar lucht féachana na hÉireann.
Samhlaítear go mbeadh aon seirbhís fhéideartha amach anseo hibrideach chun rochtain a thabhairt ar ábhar ar mhodhanna traidisiúnta FM agus digiteacha nó ar líne araon. Tá sé seo ar aon dul leis an moladh ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Meán maidir le hathbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar sheirbhísí Gaeilge, go ndéanfaí scrúdú ar rannpháirtíocht na n-óg, cláir óige agus úsáid níos fearr a bhaint as na meáin dhigiteacha. Cuirtear san áireamh ina leithéid de shamhail hibrideach freisin cumas teicniúil teoranta sheirbhís iomlán FM agus baintear cothromaíocht amach idir lucht féachana FM agus níos mó daoine óga ag dul i dtreo seirbhísí agus ábhar digiteach.
Tacaím go láidir le níos mó ábhar agus seirbhísí Gaeilge a sholáthar agus iad a chur ar fáil níos leithne, go háirithe do dhaoine óga.
Más féidir an cineál seirbhíse seo a chur i bhfeidhm, ba mhaith liom é a fheiceáil ag tarlú. Níl sé i gceist agam tuilleadh plé a dhéanamh ar na sonraí, toisc gur faoi Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann mar an rialtóir neamhspleách atá sé seirbhísí craolacháin raidió a cheadúnú.
Tá sé go maith go bhfuil ar a laghad dáta nua eile againn maidir leis an bhfoilseachán seo agus go mbeidh sé os comhair an phobail, tá súil againn, i mí Feabhra. Táimid ar fad ag fanacht le tamall maith blianta anois go mbeadh obair déanta maidir le stáisiún raidió nó bealaí difriúla chun díriú isteach ar an éileamh i measc an aosa óig maidir le réimsí difriúla d’ábhair agus bealaí difriúla chun ábhair a chur ar fáil dóibh. Tá súil agam nach mbeidh aon mhoill nuair a fhoilseofar é seo agus nach mbeidh Coimisiún na Meán nó aon duine eile ag cur moille ar déanamh cinnte de go mbeidh na réimsí seo ar fáil chomh tapa agus is féidir, sula gcaillimid glúin eile de dhaoine óga mar nach bhfuilimid ag cur seirbhísí craolacháin atá oiriúnach agus i nGaeilge ar fáil dóibh.
Mar a luaigh mé i mo fhreagra, ba mhaith liom, más féidir, an cineál seirbhíse seo a fheiceáil i bhfeidhm do dhaoine óga ach tá Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann mar an rialtóir craolacháin neamhspleách atá freagrach as seirbhísí craolacháin raidió neamhspleácha a cheadúnú in Éirinn. Is é an t-údarás, agus ní mise mar Aire, a thionscnaíonn an próiseas ceadúnaithe do sheirbhísí raidió. Faoi láthair, tá 22 seirbhís phobail nó sainspéise ar an aer. Nuair a bheidh toradh thionscadal taighde an údaráis againn, beidh sé riachtanach cinneadh a dhéanamh faoin mbealach is oiriúnaí chun an tseirbhís a sholáthar. Mar a leagtar amach sa reachtaíocht, tá próiseas foirmiúil, reachtúil, rialála ann maidir le seirbhís nua a thabhairt isteach, a dhéanann an rialtóir neamhspleách, Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann, agus ní mór dó go leor gnéithe a chur san áireamh, lena n-áirítear na himpleachtaí a bhaineann le cúnamh stáit.
Tuigim go bhfuil an t-údarás neamhspleách ach sa deireadh thiar thall, ní féidir leo obair a dhéanamh agus ní féidir leis an réimse seo de na meáin chumarsáide tarlú, má tá sé le tarlú, gan tacaíocht Rialtais nó infheistíocht Rialtais. Tá an dá rud ceangailte go huile agus go hiomlán. Tá mise ag impí ar an Aire agus ar an Rialtas a chinntiú, nuair atá an tuairisc ann, go mbeidh tacaíocht ann ón Rialtas do pé cinntí atá le tógáil mar is léir dúinn cheana féin go bhfuil spéis ag daoine óga in ábhar as Gaeilge. Is léir sin ón dul chun cinn mór atá déanta ó thaobh TG4 agus Cúla4. Táim ag fiafraí nach mbeidh aon mhoill ar aon infheistiú nó aon ghníomhú de réir na tuarascála lena bhfuilimid ag súil i mí Feabhra anois.
Creidim go bhfuil sé tábhachtach ar dtús an taighde a fhoilsiú agus deis a thabhairt d’ Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann agus, nuair a chuirfear ar bun é, Coimisiún na Meán, machnamh a dhéanamh ar conas gur féidir eolas a dhéanamh d’aon straitéisí ceadúnaithe amach anseo. Seo cuid den chúis go bhfuil a leithéid de thaighde chomh tábhachtach, ní hamháin chun an leibhéal spéise sa tseirbhís seo a mheas ach chun tuairimí daoine faoi aon bhearnaí sa tseirbhís a mheastar atá ann a fháil amach chomh maith. Tá sé i bhfad róluath labhairt faoi cén tseirbhís a d’fhéadfaí a chur ar fáil sa deireadh, cé a sholáthróidh an tseirbhís sin agus conas a mhaoineofar í, ach is féidir féachaint ar cad iad na tacaíochtaí a cheadófaí agus a d’fhéadfaí a bheith oiriúnach. Bheadh ar thacaíocht den chineál seo teacht le rialacha cúnamh stáit. Mar a dúirt mé cheana, más féidir linn an cineál seirbhíse seo a chur i bhfeidhm do dhaoine óga, ba mhaith liom é sin a fheiceáil.
11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to issues raised by film crew at the recent Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight hearings on section 481 tax relief in terms of their vulnerability to blacklisting and failure to vindicate their rights as employees under EU and national law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3722/23]
I return to the subject of my earlier questions on the film industry. I will firstly address copyright and intellectual property rights. The legislation sets out that "The right to equitable remuneration conferred by this section shall not be waived by the performer and the performer shall not assign the right to equitable remuneration except to a collecting society". However, the contracts that producers are forcing performers to sign state that the artist agrees that the consideration herein constitutes equitable remuneration for the assignment of all rights pursuant to the above and represents a full buy-out of all rights. The producer companies that the State is funding are breaching the rights of writers, performers and actors.
The Deputy will have the opportunity to ask a further question.
I believe this question relates to the vulnerability to blacklisting and failure to vindicate people's rights as employees under EU and national law. The Deputy is following up on the previous question. It is an excellent use of his time.
I am. I will bring up the blacklisting in a second.
I will answer the question tabled and then get back to the copyright. I understand that the Deputy's question on blacklisting refers to a situation when a person or persons are denied fair opportunities for work or they are discriminated against for one reason or another in gaining employment or both. Employment law is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the mechanisms for dealing with allegations of breaches in the employment laws of the State are under his aegis. These mechanisms are the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, and the Labour Court and they are the appropriate forum for dealing with allegations of such breaches.
In the event that allegations are upheld, applicant companies for section 481 must provide details of all WRC decisions relating to the qualifying company, the producer company or other companies in the film group, and where those decisions are a finding against such a company, confirmation that the finding has been followed or an explanation where the finding has not been followed must be provided.
I am a passionate advocate for diversity. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, I would not condone blacklisting or discrimination of any kind. I have introduced policies that highlight the need for inclusion of all. The work of the skills division of Screen Ireland has been particularly important in improving hiring practices in the audiovisual industry. Screen Ireland states that open hiring practices have increased to the extent that crew calls are now becoming commonplace for most productions. Crew calls mean that there is an open application process so that everyone can apply for crew positions in that production. This is for the industry and those working in it including those who may be marginalised, from minorities or from disadvantaged backgrounds. My Department has been informed that 2022 had the highest number of productions providing placements for disadvantaged groups.
More broadly, as I referred to earlier, the Safe to Create programme incorporates zero tolerance of seven damaging behaviours including victimisation. Victimisation occurs when there is adverse treatment of a worker in reaction to a complaint made by the employee or worker. It is intended that free online training in tackling bullying and harassment and in unconscious bias will be undertaken by all in the audiovisual industry. Training in these areas should further protect the rights of vulnerable or marginalised workers.
There is a question of order here. I understand the Deputy asked an earlier, related question. It is fair to the Minister to have answered this one.
Absolutely, although the point is, as I mentioned earlier, that if people refuse to sign those buy-out contracts and do not get a job, they are in effect blacklisted. On the specific question, in order to avail of section 481, film producer companies have to sign a declaration that they are abiding by legislation such as the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act, and they are supposed to notify the Minister of cases. Did Metropolitan Films tell the Minister there was a finding against it by the Labour Court over breach of a collective agreement? Does that concern the Minister? Did it inform the Minister that there were ten different cases of unfair dismissal, with seven at the WRC and three at the Labour Court, where the producer company refused to give evidence and said it was not the employer? It could hide behind the designated activity company, DAC, and therefore refused to even engage with the court or give evidence when workers claiming unfair dismissal took those cases. Should the Government not be looking at the detail of this and examining whether there is a major problem? I believe there is a major problem.
Employment practices in industry have been examined by the WRC. The Deputy had a role in the background on that examination. We constantly monitor the operation of the scheme and work with all stakeholders to bring enhancements where we can. The recent extension of section 481 is a positive development for the sector and all working in it. Without section 481, productions as diverse as "An Cailín Ciúin" and "The Banshees of Inisherin" would not be feasible in Ireland. The WRC and Labour Court are independent statutory bodies under the Workplace Relations Act 2015 and the Industrial Relations Act 1946, respectively. They are the mechanisms for regulating employment law in the State. They are under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Both organisations have statutory powers under which they conduct their business and I have no role in their operation.
It is just pass the parcel. I have to hand an email from someone who was not even in front of our committee. Their name could not be given. It just said that they would love to chat about the film and TV industry again and that blacklisting, bullying and poor practices are alive and well and happening now in some of the 13 productions that were under way in the country at the time.
The people who say things like that are afraid to speak out publicly. Those that did have not worked in the industry since. That is what is going on. It is possible because of the DAC structure for which the Government is responsible. The Government gives the production companies money and they give an undertaking to comply with all employment legislation. Such companies go into the WRC and state they are not the employer, even though the company knows who the person is and that he or she was employed on a film production where the company set up the DAC of which it owns 100%. Yet the companies say that they have no employment relationship with that person. And the Government is letting that happen. That is a breach of the fixed-term workers Act. Will the Government show us all the notifications or lack of notifications from the film producer companies about the cases that have been taken for unfair dismissal, which is effectively blacklisting?
As I said earlier this morning, I note that Screen Producers Ireland strongly refutes any claim of blacklisting in the Irish film industry-----
Of course it does. What else is it going to say? "We blacklist people every day"?
-----and demonstrates its commitment to relations with the unions. If the Deputy knows of a specific instance, or of people to whom it has happened, it is up to him to make a complaint to the appropriate mechanism, which is the WRC. Certain individuals are claiming they have not been able to get a job since. The employment record of any individual is a private matter between him or her and the Department of Social Protection-----
It is not private. It is public money.
-----and the individual and the Revenue Commissioners. If the Deputy is aware of a specific incident, it is up to him to make the complaint to the appropriate mechanism, which is the WRC.
12. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the next round of sports capital funding will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3062/23]
31. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the awards for the sports capital scheme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2859/23]
39. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the review of the sports grant will be complete; and when the next round of applications will be opened for same. [3550/23]
51. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the sports capital grants programme will be reopened for applications; the proposed timetable for the processing of these applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3611/23]
54. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has details on future plans for the sports capital funding; if she will provide a timeline if possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3617/23]
73. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will address the current status of opening of the next round of the sports capital programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2738/23]
75. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the expected timeline for the opening of the next round of the sports capital grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3507/23]
There is always great excitement and anticipation on the announcement of the sports capital grants. The Minister of State will know well how much these grants mean to the sports clubs up and down the country. I think every Member in the House is aware of it. The volunteers who keep those clubs running extract huge value out of every euro that comes in those grants. When can we expect the next round of sports capital funding to be announced?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 31, 39, 51, 54, 73 and 75 together.
As the Deputies are aware, 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 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 in March 2021 and by the deadline 3,106 applications were submitted. Approximately 1,000 of the submitted applications were for equipment-only projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced in August 2021. The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on 11 February 2022.
Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision and 146 appeals were received. Consequent allocations on foot of successful appeals amounting to €6.14 million. It is always important to look at the avenue for appeal whenever this comes up. The total allocation of €166.6 million is the highest ever. Details of all allocations can be found on the Department's website. The Deputy will know of projects in his own constituency. The priority is to advance the successful applications to the formal approval stage. Much engagement is ongoing and work with the Department.
A full review has been undertaken by the Department of the 2020 round. A draft of the review has now been completed. I have looked at is as has the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. We should be in a position to publish this review shortly and recommendations arising from it will be reflected in the next round. Officials are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of the next round and I have had discussions with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. Once this process is concluded, I will announce the exact dates from which new applications will be accepted. The timeframe will depend on the volume of applications. It is a really good scheme, which we all know and love. I am hopeful that the discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will conclude shortly so that we can get the next round under way.
That is considerable funding that we put into it. It shows that we all acknowledge the value of sports for well-being in our community and what it does for communities. I have had the opportunity to work with a number of the clubs that did receive funding in the last year or two and to assist in the appeals process, which is an important thing to stress. Lacken-Kilbride GAA Club got substantial funding and Greystones Lawn Tennis Club, Sea Scouts and a range of community activities also benefited.
Could we also look at a type of sports campus funding where we bring all the sporting clubs together in the community rather than having separate fields designated for rugby, football or GAA? We would get a much better return for the community out of it. One that I am looking at in particular is down in west Wicklow where we are working on a pool for the area. We have a pool in Bray, Greystones, Arklow and Wicklow town but there is nothing once you go to the other side of the mountains. A whole sports campus in west Wicklow is something that we should look at bringing in where it would have running tracks, changing rooms and football pitches for Blessington Football Club etc. That is something that we could also look at in the sports grants.
I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment and wish him well. The sports capital grant programme is well supported and much anticipated in County Clare. Last year Clare got €4.6 million and 69 clubs benefited from it. I am receiving queries from clubs which are anticipating the announcement of a new date for applications. I encourage the Minister of State to move the process along as quickly as he can. Can he give more detail on a timeframe for when this will happen and give an indication of how much he hopes to make available? Will it be as much as last year?
The sports capital grant scheme is clearly very important but we need to move away from it. We need a sports facility strategy, which ensures that funding delivers resources to where they are needed when they are needed rather than being awarded following good political lobbying. Very often, you find that the big, almost professional clubs, which are well resourced and have very deep pockets have the expertise or can afford the expertise to ensure that their application gets over the line. It is not a coincidence that the sports capital grants deliver for affluent areas rather than disadvantaged areas. The scheme ensures that there is some accommodation for that but we need to move away from the capital grant scheme and put in a sports facility strategy.
I completely reject the Sinn Féin proposal to move away from the sports capital programme. We will not do that. We will stick with it and we will be prioritising disadvantaged areas. That is what we are doing and that is what the sports capital programme has always done. Areas of disadvantage are awarded higher marks under the scheme. There will be a transparent marking scheme and people will know what these projects are judged on. Disadvantage is probably the strongest criterion. Women in sport is really important too and inclusion will also be important. The sports clubs will have to consider all those things.
Clubs that I know are doing their work at the moment to get ready. There is significant support available from the Department. It is probably the most open Department in terms of getting information from it. Local sports partnerships in local areas also give support in places like Clare and Wicklow. The national governing bodies are also there to give support.
And Kildare.
They are also in Kildare. I am addressing the areas where Deputies spoke on this particular question but it is important in every county. We want to help the national governing bodies to help the sporting bodies in the areas and that includes all of them. I have had discussions with some of the national governing bodies on that as well.
I agree. I think that sports capital grant schemes is one of the best grant schemes that we have through government. A great many clubs have benefited from it across the country. It is a very fair and equitable scheme. Clubs benefit where we get to engage with them, advise them and we learn the lessons from applications that were not successful.
I am working on a particular one in west Wicklow, which is the subject of Question No. 22 on sports capital grants which we will not reach. Crossing the mountains in Wicklow one reaches west Wicklow an area where people always consider they do not get as much as in the east. I would be eager to look a sports facility, swimming pool and running track, as well as sports pitches for Blessington Football Club. People need to go to Sallins, Naas or Tallaght to find a swimming pool. The area merits it and I hope that application can be considered favourably.
Does the Minister of State anticipate that the budget for the forthcoming programme will be similar to that of the last programme? It was a record budget the last time and 69 clubs in Clare benefited to the tune of €4.6 million. Spending more on sport gives much more back. It is not just about physical well-being; mental health also benefits from an injection in sports facilities. I ask the Minister of State to give his view on that. How much money has he sought? Will it compare favourably with last year?
It is interesting to hear the Minister of State reject the idea of a national sports facility strategy given that the Government has already done considerable work in developing national sports facilities. In the past it gave a commitment to develop a sports facility strategy. It is not a coincidence that when a particular Minister of State with responsibility for sport is in situ, his or her constituency tends to get greater funding for sports facilities. That does not apply so much currently, but it is something that happened in the past. Having a national sports facility strategy would ensure that would not happen again. It is important to address that.
I acknowledge the Minister of State's reference to Kildare North, which is his neighbouring constituency. I ask him to keep it in mind because of the rapidly increasing population and the demand that follows that in terms of sports capital grants, equipment grants and swimming pools, on which we were unfortunate in the past. I ask the Minister of State to look favourably on his next-door neighbours in this situation, in which he also has an interest.
I do not reject a sports facility strategy; I rejected Deputy Andrews's proposal to move away from a sports capital programme.
It is possible to have both.
What he said about the Minister of State's constituency is not true. Every constituency did better in the last sports capital allocation.
Nobody is disputing that.
The Government is committed to doing that with priority for inclusion and disadvantage and we will continue with that.
Regarding Deputy Carey's point, discussions are ongoing. Massive ambition has been shown by voluntary clubs throughout the country. These are not professional clubs, as Sinn Féin has alleged. Voluntary clubs in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of cities and everywhere benefited from sports capital grants, and Clare is no exception. I will be working with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to maximise that budget.
Deputy Matthews spoke about swimming pools. There is a national swimming strategy under review and I will be in correspondence with him about that. I share his ambition to bring swimming to every part of the country, including in his constituency.
Deputy Durkan might know that my granny got married in the little chapel in Kilcock, which is in the Meath East constituency. The Kildare North constituency is very important to me because many of my constituents take part in sports in that constituency. It is not just our constituencies that will benefit; it is every constituency in the country. We need to help and champion everyone who wants to take part in sports. We need to help these communities in cities, towns and rural areas to benefit from this because we know the importance of sports. This summer will be a wonderful time for sport in the country. Throughout the year there are major sporting events. The themes need to be inclusion and increased participation, and to ensure the facilities Deputy Andrews mentioned are in place. We will also work with local authorities and national governing bodies on that.
Speaking of the summer ahead, Question No. 13 is in the name of Deputy Andrews.
13. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the measures that are being put in place to address the expected increase in participation at a grassroots level in women's football ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup in July 2023 in Australia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2737/23]
The Irish women's football team have qualified for the World Cup in Australia in July. This will be a major boost for football in Ireland and particularly women's football. It is an enormous achievement for the women's team under the stewardship of Vera Pauw. What measures are being put in place to address the expected increase in participation in grassroots football ahead of the finals in July 2023?
I thank the Deputy for this highly relevant question. This is a very exciting time for women's football in Ireland. I recently attended the soccer writers' awards night at which Vera Pauw spoke. The sense of sheer excitement and pride, which came from her and was shared around the room, will be reflected throughout the country as we build up to the World Cup and our women take part in it. We wish them well. It will be very exciting for us in the run-up, but they have considerable hard work to do in preparing for it. I wish them well in that. It is a great achievement and presents a real opportunity to grow the women's game even further at every level and we will do that through every avenue available to Government. There is no doubt but that it will have a positive and significant impact in increasing participation numbers.
The FAI launched its strategy for 2022 to 2025 last year. Developing the full potential of football for women and girls is a core objective of that strategy, and one the Government supports. Earlier this month, the FAI announced the appointment of Eileen Gleeson as its head of women's and girls' football to lead the continued development and growth of football for all women and girls in Ireland. This appointment is a very welcome and positive development for women's football.
Football clubs and communities throughout the country are doing excellent work in promoting football for women and girls and providing opportunities for them to participate. Addressing women's participation at all levels in sport is an important element of our national sports policy and a key priority for me and the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. Football is contributing significantly to achieving our aims in that regard.
The Government and Sport Ireland will continue to support the FAI in developing the game among women and girls. In accordance with the Government's memorandum of understanding with the FAI, funding of €5.8 million is being allocated to the FAI for football development each year between 2020 and 2023.
In addition, specific women-in-sport funding is allocated to the FAI through Sport Ireland's women-in-sport funding programme to increase women's participation and to progress the FAI's strategic objectives for women in sport. Funding of €64,000 was provided under this programme for 2021 and 2022. In December 2022, funding was provided to Sport Ireland to support a number of initiatives aimed at improving the profile and visibility of female athletes across all sports in 2023, with specific support for women in football.
I thank the Minister of State for the reply. We need to ensure that the grassroots level is the best it can be to ensure we capture the almost certain increase in participation around the finals in Australia. We need increased investment in facilities across the country, particularly for grassroots development. Regional development is very important. It is great to see a Kerry football club starting up and developing into the League of Ireland.
With all the clubs throughout the country, including in my constituency in Ringsend, there is an issue with all-weather facilities. A previous speaker mentioned multi-use facilities, which is really important. We are not investing enough in those. The collapse of the stand in Limerick's Markets Field at the end of last year highlights the urgent need for investment in League of Ireland and grassroots facilities. We can support and cheer on the Irish team, but we need to do more than that. We need significant investment in grassroots football.
There is no doubt but that there will be a massive increase. Apart from the great pride and everybody cheering our women on, it will lead to more people getting involved and more pressure on facilities. As part of the sports capital programme, funding will be geared to ensuring we have inclusion and increased participation at all levels, including among women and girls. As I mentioned in response to an earlier question, we also have initiatives at senior board level which are designed to get more women on boards and more focus on that in the governing bodies. That also needs help at all levels throughout the administrative structures of the organisation and, as the Deputy said, through the facilities. I am absolutely committed to doing that.
I was never a great soccer player although my late father was. My wife also played soccer. I know personally of the pride among women who played soccer or indeed Gaelic football over the past 20 or 30 years at a time when it was a minority sport.
It is with pride that we see the Irish ladies' team now coming through. It is also a source of pride to see the kids who are now coming up through the ranks and playing soccer at a high level. We hope that will continue. The Government and Sport Ireland are committed to doing everything we possibly can to ensure we facilitate that and enable it to happen.
I acknowledge the Minister of State's reply. I do not want to labour the point but we need to move away from the sports capital grant scheme. We need to move to national sports facilities. In 2012, the Government developed a draft sports facility strategy which was supported by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI. A circular was sent to all local authorities to try to develop the strategy. Has the Government completely ruled out a national sports strategy or is it open to developing one?
In order to harness the joy around Irish football, in particular women's football, we need to ring-fence significant funding for the FAI. We need to set up a task force within the FAI and the Government to ensure that funding is directed at the development of women's sport, including women's football, to benefit from the team's World Cup participation.
Cuirim fáilte roimh na páistí atá anseo ó Scoil Mobhí i nGlas Naíon. Tá fáilte rompu isteach sa Dáil inniu. I was talking about my wife playing sport. Coincidentally, she used to play Gaelic in Na Fianna, next door to our visitors. That is a complete coincidence.
The Deputy raised important questions. I, the Minister and the Government are very committed to the issue. We will work with the Deputy and the Government bodies. At the meetings I have with every body, including the FAI, the issue of women in sport is top of the agenda. I do not agree with the Deputy's point about moving away from the sports capital programme. I complete reject that. However, I absolutely agree with him about facilities. The most recent sports capital round included the allocation of €25 million to multi-sport facilities. Much of that funding would go to education and training boards, ETBs, local authorities or sports clubs that happen to allow different sports. We do not have the figures broken down, and I am trying to get such a breakdown, but football is a big beneficiary. The size of the pitch in a multi-sport facility is, generally speaking, the size of an all-weather soccer pitch. We will continue to do that. Under the sports capital programme, clubs or organisations that provide for multi-sport facilities or allow access to other sports gain an advantage. We want to help increase participation. I am committed to the issues the Deputy raised in this question. We will continue to work on those issues.
14. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she continues to take to ensure that tourism is given every opportunity to develop and grow in the future notwithstanding the future challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3639/23]
20. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the plans she has in place to protect Ireland's tourism, given that 55,000 hotel rooms are assigned to Ukrainian refugees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3629/23]
My question seeks to ascertain the extent to which the Minister can encourage the tourism industry to expand to meet the widest possible market and to encourage various aspects of tourism where an advantage can be gained. I ask that in the context of our recovery from the Covid-19-related lockdowns and the industry's prospects for the future.
Representatives of Fáilte Ireland were recently before the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to discuss the challenges the tourism sector is facing on the back of our response to the Ukrainian crisis. Up to one quarter of our hotel rooms are occupied by beneficiaries of temporary protection. What plans are in place to support the tourism sector in response to our humanitarian empathy towards Ukrainians?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 20 together.
Internationally, tourism continues to recover steadily, yet several challenges, both geopolitical and economic, remain. The combination of increasing interest rates in all major economies, rising energy and food prices, and the growing prospects of a global recession are major threats to the recovery of international tourism for 2023. Hotel capacity, energy costs and labour shortages will continue to challenge the tourism industry here in Ireland this year.
Though the strong early recovery of inbound tourism to Ireland last year was welcome, there are significant challenges facing the sector. I am, therefore, continuing to direct significant resources to support the sustainable recovery of the sector. In budget 2023, I secured an additional €15 million for the overseas marketing of Ireland. The budget also contains an additional €15 million for a range of industry initiatives, including €3 million for the continuation of the investment in skills development and retention, which is critical, as there are significant employment challenges faced by tourism businesses in attracting talent, assisting skills development and retaining staff. Additionally, a €2 million increase in funding for domestic marketing will continue to promote Ireland's tourism offering to Irish holidaymakers.
I have also secured €3 million to allow Fáilte Ireland to continue its work in the area of sustainability. Other allocations include €36.5 million in capital funding for tourism product development for the continued delivery of enhanced visitor experiences in line with the objectives of the National Development Plan 2021-2030. Tourism Ireland will roll out an extensive and targeted programme of activity in 2023, with a total marketing budget of €78 million. A wide range of promotional activities will be undertaken, including a new global marketing campaign, publicity and programming, social media and digital marketing, as well as working with the tourism industry at home and the travel trade overseas to facilitate sales. In the area of screen tourism, we can expect many international tourists to head for County Mayo on foot of "The Banshees of Inisherin".
Economic, social and environmental sustainability will be at the heart of Tourism Ireland's work over the coming years, driving greater economic prosperity and benefiting communities across the island, while at the same time increasing our consideration of the environmental impacts of tourism. In addition, Fáilte Ireland will announce its plans for 2023 shortly. The Government has recognised the challenge of rapidly rising energy costs for businesses and last year introduced the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS. I recognise the growing concern among the wider tourism industry that the number of tourism beds taken out of the system for humanitarian reasons is likely to have a real impact on the industry's recovery in 2023 and beyond. In addition, hotel accommodation is not an ideal medium- to long-term solution for the accommodation needs of families. That is why the Government is actively exploring a wide range of alternative options, including the roll-out of a rapid-build housing programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine. My Department has communicated concerns to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. That Department is working urgently across Government with agencies, non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and local authorities to bring new accommodation on board so that the State's humanitarian responsibilities can be met. My Department has initiated the development of a new national sustainable tourism policy that will seek to mainstream sustainability. The development of this new policy will involve extensive consultation with the industry and our communities to help set out a path for the coming years to support sustainable recovery and subsequent growth in the sector. The new tourism policy will seek to support sustainable economic development in communities throughout the country while protecting our environment and natural resources, with greater demand spread out across the year.
While the sector faces many challenges, I am confident that the supports the Government has put in place will ensure that Ireland's tourism industry is well positioned to maintain its current levels of recovery and to grow sustainably in the coming years.
I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. There are two aspects I would like to concentrate on by way of a supplementary question. The first relates to niche tourism and particularly the use of large country houses. There is considerable scope for niche tourism in that regard. Some of those houses have taken those opportunities and others have not. I also raise the development of conference tourism. There is an enormous international market in that respect. Some countries are availing of those opportunities to a greater extent than this country. It might be possible to incentivise such tourism.
I thank the Minister for her response. "The Banshees of Inisherin" is a considerable achievement and as a result of the film, the Wild Atlantic Way is now on a global stage, which is significant for the likes of counties Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Galway and Mayo. We should not look to capitalise on the opportunity through further investment along the Wild Atlantic Way. We have an enormous product on our doorstep.
There are now more than 55,000 beds being occupied by Ukrainians in more than 250 bed and breakfasts. We certainly need to ensure we have a plan going forward to ensure that our tourism product is not impacted as a result of a lack of availability of rooms at an affordable price. We need to ensure it does not raise the price so that it is extortionate for tourists coming to this country. I also encourage Tourism Ireland to look to what is happening in Inis Mór and Achill Island and at having an exposition or a marketing campaign on the back of it.
Tourism Ireland has been quite fast off the mark. It put up a video on social media maybe three months ago. It shows the actors being interviewed about the beauty of where they worked on location in Achill and Inis Mór. The Deputy can retweet that to his heart's content. It is very aware of the immense value that this will bring to attract international tourists and is capitalising on that. That is another great reason we have tourism, arts and culture in the same portfolio. I have always talked about the links there.
In regard to the large country houses, there may be one or two in Kildare north. I can talk with Deputy Durkan afterwards about the potential of that from a tourism point of view. In regard to the conferences, I am aware of that and engage with that specific area in the tourism industry. I expect it to have someone in attendance at the tourism and hospitality forum next week, which is being convened by myself and the Minister, Deputy Coveney. I know Tourism Ireland is aware of the potential there.
In regard to the concerns about the humanitarian response, it is, of course, the right thing for us to do. As a nation, we sought refuge for generations and we should never forget that. The Government has approved the construction of 700 rapid build homes with the potential to house up to 2,800 individuals in family units. The vacant homes initiative led by local authorities aims to provide 1,000 homes while refurbishments led by the Department of House, Local Government and Heritage will provide an estimated 3,000 beds. Under those measures between 6,000 and 7,000 beds or more will come on stream in the coming months to ease the pressure. Of course, I am aware of the concerns in the industry. In particular the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, ITIC, published reports recently and I have met with its representatives on foot of those reports. I will be engaging with the industry with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, at the tourism and hospitality forum next week.
