Tuesday, 22 May 2018

Written Answers Nos. 631-635

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (631)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

631. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 9 May 2018, the purpose of the €1 million paid to date to Cork City Council; if this €1 million was reimbursed to the council in respect of costs incurred; the breakdown of the €1 million; if, on completion of her Department's analysis of the project, it must then be referred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for further assessment; if it is her Department or the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that has the final sign-off on the extra €10 million of funding that has been sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22272/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

In December 2015, in accordance with the terms of a Service Level Agreement between the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Cork City Council, and with prior sanction from Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, €1 million was paid to Cork City Council in respect of the Cork Event Centre project.  The breakdown of the expenditure of this €1 million is a matter for Cork City Council but includes, I am advised, some funding towards the cost of professional advices obtained as part of the project.

As sanctioning authority for the project, my Department needs to ensure that the project is robust, complies with the Public Spending Code and will deliver value for money for the Exchequer. Allocations of funding are a matter for me, as Minister, in the first instance, but are also subject to the sanction of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (632)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

632. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 9 May 2018, the terms and conditions of the service level agreement in place between her Department and Cork City Council in respect of the €12 million that has been committed to date for the project; if there is a time limit in the agreement within which the €12 million must be drawn down; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22273/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department allocated €12 million to Cork City Council towards the cost of the Cork Event Centre which is being developed and managed by Cork City Council.

As with all capital grants from my Department, the allocation is managed under a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the City Council. The SLA was signed in December 2015 when the estimated cost of the project was €50 million. Since then, the project cost has increased and while the full cost has not yet been agreed, it is likely to exceed of €70 million. Aligned with the increase in the project cost is a request from the City Council for additional Exchequer funding of €10m. This is being considered at present. Any revised funding agreement would require a revised SLA.

Under the existing SLA, my Department is to provide funding of €12 million to the project subject to the Council complying with the terms and conditions which include the registration of a charge on the facility, the production of documentary evidence that all funding is in place to bring the Event Centre into public use, tax clearance certification and the provision of information on the Centre for a period of ten years from the payment of the grant, as well as payment procedures. The SLA covered a period of four years.

Departmental Reports

Ceisteanna (633)

John Brassil

Ceist:

633. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the economic analysis study of the audiovisual sector in the Republic of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22315/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to publish this report shortly.

Irish Language

Ceisteanna (634)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

634. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason she is not satisfied to provide funding for groups (details supplied). [22413/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I should clarify that provision of support for Irish language newspapers and magazines is an operational matter for Foras na Gaeilge in the first instance.

My understanding is that Foras na Gaeilge’s current policy, following a review of funding provided to the Irish language print media sector, is focused on optimising the readership for an Irish language news service and other magazines by making the content available free of charge online. In that context, a four year contract worth €1.2m was awarded under the Online Irish Language Newspaper Scheme to Tuairisc.ie for the provision of a free online weekly newspaper. In addition to this, a three year contract valued at €254,814 was awarded under the Irish Language Lifestyle Magazine Scheme to NÓS for the provision of a free online monthly lifestyle magazine, while a three year contract worth €360,000 was awarded under the Irish Magazine Scheme to Comhar to provide a free online literary and current affairs publication.

It is clear that reading habits have changed dramatically in recent years. The continuing trends of falling newspaper and magazine sales generally and the increasing popularity of free of charge content online have had an impact on Irish language publications also. The advent of the digital era in particular and the obvious advantages attaching to instantaneous updating and lower distribution and production costs, bring major implications for media in the future.

I am pleased to learn that results in relation to take up of these publications have been very positive.  However, I should add that, as these contracts will expire at the end of 2018, Foras na Gaeilge is currently carrying out an appraisal of its existing schemes.

The following revised reply was received on 29 May 2018

I should clarify that provision of support for Irish language newspapers and magazines is an operational matter for Foras na Gaeilge in the first instance.

My understanding is that Foras na Gaeilge’s current policy, following a review of funding provided to the Irish language print media sector, is focused on optimising the readership for an Irish language news service and other magazines by making the content available free of charge online. In that context, a four year contract worth €1.2m was awarded under the Online Irish Language Newspaper Scheme to Tuairisc.ie for the provision of a free online weekly newspaper. In addition to this, a three year contract valued at €254,814 was awarded under the Irish Language Lifestyle Magazine Scheme to NÓS for the provision of a free online monthly lifestyle magazine, while a three year contract worth €360,000 was awarded under the Irish Magazine Scheme to Comhar to provide a literary and current affairs publication.

It is clear that reading habits have changed dramatically in recent years. The continuing trends of falling newspaper and magazine sales generally and the increasing popularity of free of charge content online have had an impact on Irish language publications also. The advent of the digital era in particular and the obvious advantages attaching to instantaneous updating and lower distribution and production costs, bring major implications for media in the future.

I am pleased to learn that results in relation to take up of these publications have been very positive.  However, I should add that, as these contracts will expire at the end of 2018, Foras na Gaeilge is currently carrying out an appraisal of its existing schemes.

Commemorative Events

Ceisteanna (635)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

635. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the 1918 commemoration events that will be held in the remainder of 2018; and the funding allocated to each such commemoration. [22516/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

This year, my Department has a current funding allocation of €850,000 to support commemorative initiatives and events in 2018, as part of the Decade of Centenaries.  This includes a funding allocation of €5,000 to support each local authority in developing commemorative initiatives at county level, which will encourage people of all ages to explore the significant events and themes of 1918.  The State commemorative programme for 2018 comprises four broad thematic strands -

- The ending of World War I;

- The enactment of the Representation of the People Act 1918 and the Parliament (Qualification of Women Act) 1918 and the significant role of women in the events of 1918;

- The rise of radical Irish nationalism and the consolidation of Ulster unionism; and

- The death of John Redmond and the decline and legacy of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

A number of significant events have already taken place, including a symposium in the National Gallery on 6th March, which was organised in partnership with the NUI, RIA, and UCD School of History, to mark the centenary of the death of John Redmond.  My Department has also supported a concert, organised by SIPTU, which took place on 22nd April to mark the centenary of the 1918 General Strike. 

On 10th October, an official commemoration will be held to commemorate those who lost their lives following the sinking of the RMS Leinster.  My Department is working in partnership with Dún-Laoghaire County Council and other national and local stakeholders to progress plans for this ceremony.  The centenary of the signing of the Armistice that ended the fighting in World War I will also be commemorated by the State.

On 6 February, I launched the State centenary programme to mark the introduction of voting rights for women.  The historian, Sinéad McCoole, is curating an innovative pop-up women's museum exhibition, entitled '100 Years of Women in Politics and Public Life, 1918 - 2018, which will be showcased in the Coach House in Dublin Castle from November of this year until January 2019.  It will then travel to venues around the country. 

In addition to the State-led events detailed above, my Department will continue to collaborate with a range of interested parties who wish to develop commemorative initiatives in 2018 as part of the Decade of Centenaries.