Written Answers Nos. 78-102
78. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding that has been allocated for dance schools following the announcement of Budget 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31871/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the breakdown of the €50 million provided for the live entertainment sector in Budget 2021; the way in which this funding will be used; the way in which live entertainers can avail of support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31907/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra87. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of the €50 million in additional funds announced for the live entertainment support scheme which will be available for workers and businesses in the industry if Covid-19 restrictions continue to prohibit indoor gatherings and therefore events. [31988/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra88. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of additional funding for the arts and culture sector as a whole, the Arts Council, the live entertainment support scheme, the audiovisual sector and the national cultural institutions which is specifically new funding when compared with the amounts provided for in the revised estimates for 2020. [31989/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 79, 87 and 88 together.
In Budget 2021, the Government provided support for live entertainment in the amount of €50m. This will include measures for the commercial entertainment sector and will support live entertainment in venues across the country, building on the Stimulus scheme announced in July. It will also see support for activities at community level leading to greater work opportunities for artists, crew and venue workers nationwide. There will be further supports for music, building on the significant demand for support under the July stimulus Music Scheme operated by First Music Contact. A scheme of capital grants for equipment will also operate in 2021. Combined with measures announced by the Minister for Finance, this will provide additional supports to a sector severely impacted by COVID-19. It is my intention to consult with the sector in advance announcing how this funding will be used and allocated.
Primary support for the arts including dance in Ireland is delivered by the Arts Council, which is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003. The Arts Council received an additional €25 million in funding in 2020 in response to the pandemic, bringing it final 2020 allocation to €105 million. Among the measures delivered as a result of the extra funding are new and additional bursaries and commissions from the Arts Council, including supports for freelance artists and those looking to develop projects on a collaborative basis. Arts Council funding in 2020 has reached organisations and individuals never before funded by the Council. Arts Council funding for 2021 is up €50m from its initial 2020 allocation to €130m. This additional investment will empower the Arts Council to help artists, arts workers and arts organisations come through this crisis and play their part in the national recovery. It will ensure that events of the highest quality across all art forms can still reach the public in new and blended ways. This support will protect jobs and it will see thousands of artists enabled to create new work. This year, the Arts Council is providing support to a wide range of stakeholders impacted by the pandemic. This increase in funding will allow the Arts Council to broaden its reach further and in particular to reach out to workers in the sector, especially those who would not previously have been beneficiaries of support from the Arts Council.
Screen Ireland’s funding will increase by €9m to €30.1m in 2021. The audiovisual industry has been one of the success stories of 2020, with on-screen success in the form of Normal People, but also its track record in maintaining output in the face of COVID-19. This record allocation will further support Screen Ireland at this critical time. In addition, the extension of the Section 481 regional uplift for an additional year is an important support and will further assist growth in the industry.
An allocation of €8m is being made to the National Concert Hall to allow for the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ. This will be a significant step towards the objective of enabling the orchestra to be established as a world class orchestra which will, with the NCH, provide a creative and imaginative programme strategy that will greatly enhance the offering of the combined organisation to the public.
Additional capital funding will see progress in the ongoing programme of investment in our capital institutions including at the National Library of Ireland, the National Archives of Ireland and the Crawford Art Gallery.
The Decade of Centenaries programme with increased funding to €5m will allow for the appropriate commemoration of the centenary of events leading to the foundation of the State.
Overall, Budget 2021 comprises €270m in current expenditure and €60.7m in capital for the arts and culture sector. This represents a very significant increase in total funding. It reflects Government's acknowledgement of the important role that the sector plays in our economy and society and recognising the devastating impact COVID-19 restrictions have had on the sector.
81. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the increase to baseline core funding for the Arts Council separate from specific Covid-19 contingency funding for 2021. [31982/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe original 2020 allocation to the Arts Council was €80 million. This was subsequently increased to €105 million in 2020. The 2021 allocation to the Arts Council is €130 million. This represents a very significant increase in total funding for the Council. It reflects Government's acknowledgement of the important role that arts and culture play in our economy and society and recognises the devastating impact COVID-19 restrictions have had on the sector.
82. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of funding announced in budget 2021 for her Department which is to be made available or spent before 31 December 2020. [31983/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2021 Budget Estimates provide for an allocation of just under €1.082bn for the sectors supported by my Department in 2021. In addition, provision is made for the following additional expenditure in 2020:
- €1.9m in supplementary funding for TG4 to support public sector broadcasting through the medium of Irish; and
- €1m to enhance the provision of 3rd level courses at home and abroad through the medium of Irish and Irish language technology projects.
83. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way in which the €11 million additional funding for the national cultural institutions will be distributed. [31984/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2021 includes provision of approximately €11m for the National Cultural Institutions. This is in addition to the capital funding provided for the major development projects underway at institutions such as the National Library of Ireland, National Archives and the Crawford Art Gallery.
€8m of this allocation relates to funding to support the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra to the National Concert Hall.
This will be a significant step towards the objective of enabling the orchestra to be established as a world class orchestra which will, with the NCH, provide a creative and imaginative programme strategy that will greatly enhance the offering of the combined organisation to the public.
The balance of €3m is divided amongst all the National Cultural Institutions.
I have secured an increase in the allocations to all the National Cultural Institutions. This recognises the valuable contribution of the Institutions to the cultural life and wellbeing of the country particularly during these very challenging times.
84. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way in which the €9 million additional funding for the audiovisual sector will be distributed. [31985/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe additional funding of €9 million for the audiovisual sector will be allocated to Screen Ireland which is the development agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry. 2021 will continue to bring many challenges to the production of film and screen content in Ireland. Screen Ireland’s mandate is to support Irish films and Irish creative talent in storytelling screen content as well as to develop an industry for films, TV drama and TV animation in Ireland and has been allocated increased this increased funding for 2021 to address ongoing challenges.
The increased funding will help address the significant levels of feature film production delayed from this year and assist with costs related to the implementation of health and safety protocols. Building on the international success of Normal People, Screen Ireland will continue to increase its investment in TV drama to build on the global demand for high-end TV drama. Ongoing support will also be provided to our world-class animation sector that has continued to operate throughout all of the COVID-19 restrictions.
Funding will also be invested into skills development across the industry and in the key policy priority areas of regional development, diversity and inclusion and sustainability. Screen Ireland also hopes to be in a position to continue to provide for a Production Continuation initiative which is being piloted this year. This fund is to help address the uncertainties caused by the pandemic and defray costs incurred by way of a cessation in production.
85. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is a cost associated with the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra to the National Concert Hall as outlined in Budget 2021. [31986/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2021 included funding of €8m for the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra to the National Concert Hall. This funding will cover the general operating costs of the Orchestra.
86. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there remains unallocated Covid-19 contingency funding from her Department which could be used in the event of a worsening Covid-19 situation or continued lockdown restrictions affecting the sectors under its remit. [31987/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll the funding that has been allocated to the Department for 2020 is provided for under specific subheads which are detailed in the Further Revised Estimates for the Department which is available at the following link
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2020.
89. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the support available for businesses such as those in the live events, arts and entertainment sectors that do not own their own premises other than the Covid restrictions support scheme.. [31991/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2021, the Government announced the provision of support for live entertainment in the amount of €50m. This will include measures for the commercial entertainment sector and will support live entertainment in across the country. This will build on the pilot live performance scheme in 2020 which was introduced as part of the July Stimulus. The pilot scheme was available to promoters whether or not they owned their own premises. There will be further supports for music, building on the phenomenal demand for support under the July stimulus Music Scheme operated by First Music Contact. A scheme of capital grants for equipment will also operate in 2021. Combined with measures announced by the Minister for Finance, this will provide additional supports to a sector severely impacted by COVID-19. Officials in my Department will engage with the sector on the detail of how these new supports will operate, and I hope also to announce the recipients of the pilot scheme shortly.
These measures are in addition to other supports common to other or all sectors including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, restart grants, exemptions from commercial rates, the warehousing of tax liabilities, and the reduction in VAT on ticket sales. In addition, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is available to all employees and the self-employed who have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also a range of loans, grants, vouchers and schemes available including the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme which offers loans from €10,000 to €1 million, for terms of up to five and a half years, and COVID-19 Business Loans of up to €25,000 which are available through Microfinance Ireland with zero repayments and zero interest for the first 6 months and the equivalent of an additional 6 months interest-free subject to certain terms and conditions.
Details of all of these supports are available at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
90. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén fáth an bhfuil gearradh siar déanta ar chaiteachas caipitil sa Bhuiséad in earnáil na Gaeltachta. [31999/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra92. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán conas atá €4 mhilliún sa bhreis i leith chaiteachas caipitil an Údaráis fógartha sa Bhuiséad céanna ina bhfuil €2.5 mhilliún gearrtha siar as airgead caipitil na Gaeltachta; agus cárb as a dtagann na €6.5 mhilliún de ghearradh siar atá ag teastáil chun na €4 mhilliún sin a fháil. [32001/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra93. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil aon ardú ar bhunlíne maoinithe earnáil na Gaeltachta, Fhoras na Gaeilge, agus Údarás na Gaeltachta, nó an ardú aonuaire amháin atá i gceist sa Bhuiséad chun dul i dtaithí le Covid-19. [32002/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra95. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén fáth nach bhfuil aon airgead breise chun deileáil le Brexit fógartha don Ghaeltacht. [32004/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá sé i gceist agam ceisteanna uimhir 90, 92, 93 agus 95 a thógáil le chéile.
Beidh áthas ar an Teachta a chloisteáil gur fógraíodh €14.8m breise d’earnáil na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta sa cháinaisnéis an tseachtain seo caite agus ciallaíonn sé sin go bhfuil maoiniú iomlán d'os cionn €78m ar fáil anois d’earnáil na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta an bhliain seo chugainn.
Leis an gcistíocht bhreise seo, beidh mo Roinn féin, Foras na Gaeilge agus Údarás na Gaeltachta in ann níos mó airgid a dháileadh ar ghrúpaí pobail ar fud an oileáin a bhfuil obair den scoth ar bun acu ar son na teanga.
Chomh maith leis sin, mar is eol don Teachta, cheadaigh an Rialtas maoiniú breise don Roinn seo mar chuid den Phlean Spreagtha Post i mí Iúil, ina raibh soláthar caipitil €8m breise d'Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2020 chun uasghrádú riachtanach a dhéanamh ar a stoc foirgneamh agus ar chórais chóireála uisce.
Nuair a chuirtear an maoiniú aon-uaire sin ar leataobh, fágann sé go bhfuil ardú suntasach ar mhaoiniú d’earnáil na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta go €78m in 2021, mar a léirítear sa tábla thíos.
|
- |
Buiséad 2020 |
Plean Spreagtha Iúil 2020 |
Buiséad 2021 |
Buiséad 2020 v Buiséad 2021 |
|
Clár |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
An Roinn - reatha |
22,950 |
|
26,070 |
+3,120 |
|
An Roinn - caipitil |
3,224 |
500 |
4,770 |
+1,546 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta - reatha |
13,652 |
200 |
17,530 |
+3,678 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta - caipitil |
10,000 |
8,000 |
14,454 |
+4,454 |
|
Comhoibriú Thuaidh Theas |
13,383 |
|
15,162 |
+1,779 |
|
Iomlán |
63,209 |
8,700 |
78,006 |
+14,797 |
Mar is eol don Teachta, is faoin bpróiséas meastacháin a dhéantar allúntas na Roinne a dheimhniú ó bhliain go bliain. Táthar ag maireachtáil i dtréimhse thar a bheith éiginnte de bharr na paindéime COVID-19 agus na Breatimeachta agus cuireadh é sin san áireamh agus Buiséad 2021 á chur le chéile, mar a léirítear anseo.
Tá measúnacht déanta ag mo Roinn ar thionchar an Bhreatimeachta agus COVID-19 ar Údarás na Gaeltachta agus ar a chliantchuideachtaí. Chuige sin, tá maoiniú breise €8.1m san iomlán ceadaithe d'Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2020 mar seo a leanas:
- Cuirfear €4.45m breise in airgead caipitil ar fáil d’Údarás na Gaeltachta chun fostaíochta a chruthú agus chun cliaint-chomhlachtaí an Údaráis a chosaint ón mBreatimeacht agus ón bpaindéim;
- Cuirfear beagnach €3m eile isteach i mbuiséad riaracháin an Údaráis. Saoróidh sé seo airgead a ghinneann an tÚdarás óna chuid acmhainní féin le caitheamh ar obair fhorbartha pobail agus teanga agus ar chothabháil maoine, rud atá éilithe ag an eagraíocht le blianta beaga anuas.
- Cuirfear allúntas breise de €700,000 ar fáil don Údarás le cur i dtreo obair na gcomharchumann Ghaeltachta agus forbairt óige, luathbhlianta agus na n-ealaíon sa Ghaeltacht de réir mar a aithnítear na tosaíochtaí.
Maidir leis an gcistíocht bhreise atá léirithe sa tábla thuas do mo Roinn féin, lena n-áirítear an Clár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga, mar aon leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga agus Foras na Gaeilge, tá airgead ceadaithe mar seo a leanas:
- Cuirfear beagnach €2.4m breise isteach i Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge na Roinne.
- Cuirfear beagnach €1.8m breise isteach i gcomhoibriú thuaidh-theas a thabharfaidh an chéad ardú san allúntas d’Fhoras na Gaeilge ó 2016; agus,
- Cuirfear €1.3m breise ar fáil don phróiseas pleanála teanga chun tacú leis na pobail éagsúla taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh den Gaeltacht a gcuid pleananna a chur i bhfeidhm agus a ullmhú de réir mar a bhaineann, chomh maith le roinnt bearta ar leas an phróisis a mhaoiniú ar bhonn lárnach.
Is fiú a nótáil chomh maith go mbeidh €3.5m breise ó allúntas na Roinne do na Meáin ag dul go TG4, rud a chuirfidh go mór le cur i bhfeidhm ghealltanais atá sonraithe sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge.
Anuas air seo uile, beidh cliaint-chomhlachtaí de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta agus comhlachtaí Gaeltachta i gcoitinne in ann tairbhe a bhaint as bearta náisiúnta eile chun dul i ngleic leis an mBreatimeacht agus COVID-19. San áireamh leis seo, mar a fógraíodh sa Bhuiséad an tseachtain seo caite, tá an Ciste Tacaíochta um Shrianta COVID, an laghdú ar an ráta Cháin Bhreis Luacha go 9% go deireadh na bliana seo chugainn agus an tsíneadh ar an tarscaoileadh ó rátaí ghnó go deireadh na bliana seo.
91. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad atá i gceist san airgead breise atá fógartha sa Bhuiséad le haghaidh na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010 – 2030. [32000/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSa cháinaisnéis a fógraíodh an tseachtain seo caite rinneadh leithdháileadh de €5 milliún don Straitéis 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge do 2021. Is i ndáil leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga a chaithfear an t-airgead sin. Is ardú de €1.3 milliún é sin ar leithdháileadh 2020.
Tá an próiseas pleanála teanga faoi lánseoil anois le 23 plean ceadaithe idir Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta, Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta agus Líonra Gaeilgeí. Cuirfear leis seo in 2021 agus beidh mo Roinn ag cur an maoiniú cuí ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta agus d'Fhoras na Gaeilge as an soláthar atá ar fáil di chun a chumasú dóibh tógáil ar an próiseas ina gceantar feidhme.
De thoradh an chiste shuntasaigh a bheidh ar fáil in 2021, fágfaidh sé go mbeidh sé ar chumas mo Roinne treisiú a dhéanamh ar fheidhmiú an phróisis agus na Straitéise, dá réir. Bainfear leas as an gciste seo go príomha chun:
- Leanúint le feidhmiú na bpleananna agus éascú a dhéanamh ar cheadú na pleananna atá fós le ceadú. Sa chur chuige atá i bhfeidhm, cuirtear ciste ar fiú suas le €100,000 - €150,000 ar fáil do limistéir a bhfuil pleananna ceadaithe ina leith. Cuireann sé seo ar a gcumas Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga a fhostú le cúram a dhéanamh d'fheidhmiú an phlean teanga go háitiúil, ag brath ar riachtanais an cháis. I gcás na mBailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta agus na Líonraí Gaeilge, cuirtear ciste ar fiú suas le €80,000 ar fáil dóibh siúd a bhfuil plean teanga ceadaithe ina leith ach amháin i gcás Cathracha na Gaillimhe agus Chorcaí a bhfuil ciste suas le €100,000 in aghaidh na bliana ar fáil dóibh.
- Leanúint le maoiniú bearta sna réimse luathbhlianta, teaghlaigh agus ealaín traidisiúnta ar bhonn lárnach chun tacú tuilleadh le feidhmiú an phróisis trí chéile.
Agus maoiniú na Straitéise 20 Bliain faoi chaibidil, is fiú a lua go bhfuil dlúthbhaint ag na cláir éagsúla caiteachais atá á riar ag mo Roinn agus go deimhin ag cláir ábhartha eile atá á riar ag Ranna agus forais ábhartha stáit le feidhmiú na Straitéise.
Mar a bhaineann sé le mo Roinn féin, luafainn an ciste atá ar fáil faoin gClár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga atá á riar ag mo Roinn chomh maith leis an soláthar airgid C4 a fuair arduithe ar fiú €0.51m agus €2.37m faoi seach i mBuiseád 2021. Luafainn chomh maith an t-ardú subtaintiúil a cuireadh ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta agus d'Fhoras na Gaeilge a chuirfear chun fónaimh de réir mar a bhaineann chun cabhrú tuilleadh le feidhmiú rathúil na Straitéise.
Questions Nos. 92 and 93 answered with Question No. 90.
94. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cá mhéad airgid sa bhreis a bheidh Foras na Gaeilge ag fáil sa €1.77 milliún atá fógartha don Fhoras Teanga, agus cén fáth a bhfuil €2 mhilliún bhreise fógartha dóibh sa Tuarascáil Chaiteachais. [32003/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs í an Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas (CATT) a cheadaíonn na buiséid do na Forais Trasteorann uile, An Foras Teanga san áireamh. Is é €1.779m an méadú táscach atá curtha ar fáil don Chomhoibriú Thuaidh Theas i mBuiséad 2021, figiúr atá slánaithe suas go €2m sa Tuarascáil Chaiteachais a bhfuil tagairt déanta ag an Teachta di ina cheist.
Déantar Foras na Gaeilge a chómhaoiniú ar bhonn 75% ó mo Roinn agus 25% ón Roinn Pobal ó thuaidh. Déantar Bord na hUltaise a chómhaoiniú ar bhonn 25% ó mo Roinn agus 75% ón Roinn Pobal.
Mar gheall ar chúinsí polaitiúla i dTuaisceart Éireann, áfach, níorbh fhéidir cruinnithe CATT a eagrú ó lár 2016 i leith. Dá bhrí sin, cé nach bhfuil na buiséid i leith 2017 go 2020 ceadaithe go hoifigiúil go fóill, ó 2017 i leith, tá aontaithe ag na Ranna Airgeadais sa dá dhlínse go bhfeidhmeodh na Forais Trasteorann uile de réir na buiséid a cheadaigh an CATT ina leith don bhliain 2016.
Tá i gceist go dtionólfar cruinnithe CATT arís go gairid, tráth go ndéanfar na buiséad 2017 - 2020 a cheadú agus a bhfuiltear ag súil go ndéanfar buiséad an Fhorais Teanga do 2021 a dheimhniú.
Question No. 95 answered with Question No. 90.
96. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén fáth nár thug sí na €4.1 mhilliún a bhí de dhíth ar TG4 dar le hÚdarás Craolacháin na hÉireann dóibh sa Bhuiséad seo. [32005/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra97. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cárb as a bhfuil an €1.9 milliún ag teacht chun róchaiteachas TG4 a íoc roimh dheireadh na bliana. [32006/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá sé i gceist agam ceisteanna uimhir 96 agus 97 a fhreagairt in éineacht.
Tuigim an obair atá déanta ag TG4 le linn COVID-19 chun foinsí nuachta, oideachais agus faisnéise seirbhíse poiblí a chur ar fáil, ag coinneáil an sceidil mar atá agus á oiriúnú chun freagra a thabhairt ar riachtanais lucht féachana TG4 cé gur bhain dúshláin léiriúcháin leis sin de bharr na srianta sláinte.
I Meán Fómhair 2020, chuir TG4 in iúl don Roinn go raibh €1.9m i gcostais bhreise a tabhaíodh de bharr COVID-19 de dhíth orthu. Tá áthas orm a rá go bhfuil an maoiniú breise €1.9m seo faighte agam agus go gcuirfear ar fáil é sa bhliain 2020.
Ina athbhreithniú ar an maoiniú a dhéantar ar Chraoltóirí Seirbhíse Poiblí don tréimhse cúig bliana 2018-2022, mhol an BAI an méadú €6 mhilliún in aghaidh na bliana i maoiniú poiblí do TG4 chun bonn taca a chur faoi chláracha breise. Ó shin, tá €2.5m faighte ag TG4 le haghaidh costais clár, ag fágáil iarmhéid €3.5m i moladh an BAI, agus tá maoiniú caipitil breise €1m faighte aige chomh maith.
Comhlíonann an €3.5m breise atá faighte ag TG4 i mBuiséad 2021 moladh an BAI go hiomlán, agus tugann sin maoiniú iomlán TG4 go dtí €40.733m, atá comhdhéanta de €36.733m i maoiniú reatha agus €4m i maoiniú caipitil.
98. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the restart plus grant will be extended to bed and breakfast operators that have deferred their opening until 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32081/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe administration of the Restart Grant Plus for B&Bs is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for further information and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
99. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the funding allocation for his Department for 2021, by project. [31816/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details attached reflect the estimated current and capital allocations for 2021 in respect of each relevant programmes under Vote 34, on the basis of the financial provision made for my Department in the Expenditure Report 2021 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform following decisions made in the context of Budget 2021.
Further detailed breakdowns will be published in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) later in the year.
It should be noted that current and capital allocations will be further supplemented through capital carryover details of which will also be available in the REV and additional funding for housing purposes provided by certain local authorities from Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts, .
Finally, it should also be noted that Votes 16 & 23, Valuation Office and Property Registration Office also fall under the remit of this Department.
100. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation of serviced sites fund by project for 2019 and 2020, in tabular form; the amount allocated and drawn down; the location of the development; the number and typology of homes per project; if the project has planning; if the project has commenced construction; and the estimated target date for completion. [31817/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department's Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), €310 million has been allocated to provide infrastructure to support the delivery of more affordable new homes for purchase or rent in those areas where local authorities have identified an affordability challenge and the viability to deliver homes and below open market purchase prices.
Funding under the SSF is available for new-build homes on local authority land. With a maximum of €50,000 funding available per home, at least 6,200 more affordable homes, to buy or rent at below market values, can be facilitated. To date, Serviced Sites funding of €127 million has been approved in principle in support of 35 projects in 14 local authority areas, which will assist in the delivery of almost 3,200 affordable homes.
The requested details for these projects is available on the Rebuilding Irelands website as follows;
Call 1 https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-gives-the-go-ahead-for-ten-local-authority-sites-for-affordable-housing-under-the-serviced-sites-fund/
Call 2 https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/.
SSF projects involve public infrastructure developments which pave the way for associated housing development. This requires extensive design, planning, public consultation and procurement processes in advance of the projects moving to construction. Reflecting the fact that the majority of SSF projects are currently at the detailed design and planning stages, the funding drawdown for constructions costs to date is approximately €2 million. There are currently two SSF projects on site; the Boherboy Road project in Cork City, with the first phase of this anticipated to be delivered in the first quarter of 2021 and the Enniskerry Road project in Stepaside, which will be one of the Cost Rental pilot projects in the State.
101. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Dublin City Council has submitted an application for the serviced sites fund for St. Michael's Estate, Inchicore, Dublin 8; the amount requested; and when a decision will be made on the issue. [31818/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra102. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount, interest rate and maturity on the European Investment Bank loan provided for the cost rental apartments in St. Michael's Estate, Inchicore, Dublin 8. [31819/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.
I can confirm that in July 2020 an application for grant funding under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) was formally submitted by Dublin City Council (DCC) to my Department in respect of the proposed development in Emmet Road, Inchicore of 375 Cost Rental units. This site has been identified as a pilot Cost Rental scheme and my Department has previously confirmed an intention, subject to submission of the required details, to support the scheme via the SSF.
The standard maximum level of funding available under the SSF is €50,000 per affordable home. My officials have already met with DCC officials in relation to the SSF application and the progress of the development more broadly. It is expected that a final decision will be made in relation to the application shortly. More generally, Departmental officials will continue to participate on the Project Board and Project Team for the Emmet Road Development with a view to supporting project delivery.
This Emmet Road development is currently at the design stage, with a dedicated design team working to progress to planning stage. Under current plans, in addition to the aforementioned 375 Cost Rental homes, there will be 109 social homes on the project. A public consultation process is presently active, and my understanding is that DCC intends to lodge a planning application with An Bord Pleanála in early 2021.
The social homes at Emmet Road will be entirely grant-funded by my Department. With regard to the Cost Rental homes, in addition to the SSF funding, it is envisioned that DCC will fund the remaining development costs for the Cost Rental units with a long-term, low-interest loan. As this project is still at the design stage, no application for funding will be made until the project is more advanced and the cost base established. The terms and conditions of any potential loan for this project would be discussed as part of that process.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has expressed strong interest in supporting Cost Rental at Emmet Road, given the EIB’s track record of supporting similar public housing projects across Europe. I can confirm that a representative from the EIB is supporting the work of DCC and engages on an ongoing basis with the Project Board overseeing the project.
