Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
343. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department can assist in the recovery of the tourism, sport, culture and entertainment sectors in the context of Covid-19 with particular reference to the need to rejuvenate these sectors within the shortest timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11531/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra344. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her preferences for the promotion of tourism, arts and culture over the next year notwithstanding the continuing presence of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3392/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra412. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to examine ways and means to facilitate a recovery post-Covid-19 by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22328/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra419. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the means in which she expects recovery to take place in respect of the various specific sectors under her aegis with particular reference to the maximisation of interest in and opportunities for those directly impacted in respect of employment in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22335/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her priorities for the tourism, culture, arts, Gaeltacht, sport and media sectors throughout the remainder of 2021 and thereafter with particular reference to the need to respond to opportunities and challenges when Covid-19 is brought under control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22342/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 343, 344, 412, 419 and 424 together.
The COVID-19 pandemic has utterly changed the operating landscape for the sectors my Department supports. I recognise the ongoing impact the pandemic and associated public health measures continues to have on these sectors, on the people who work in them and on the communities that depend on them.
However, we should also recognise that these tough decisions have enabled all of us, through collective action, to protect the most vulnerable in our society, and with the ongoing rollout of the vaccination programme we find ourselves positioned at the beginning of a process where we can start to focus our efforts on economic and social recovery.
I have been actively working with and for the sectors within my remit to ensure that they are supported during the pandemic and have established a number of fora and taskforces to ensure that I have the most up to date information about the difficulties facing these sectors.
I have also worked with my colleagues across Government to ensure the availability of horizontal supports that are critical to the survival of many in our sectors. These include the income supports of PUP and the wage subsidy scheme which continue to be key to supporting to all sectors thorough this crisis. Additionally, Government is providing a range of enterprise supports such as the CRSS (COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme), the CBAS (COVID-19 Business Aid Scheme), commercial rates waivers etc., which many businesses in the sectors my Department supports can avail of.
In parallel with these developments, key commitments in the Programme for Government were advanced, including the establishment of the Night-time Economy Taskforce and the Future of Media Commission, both of which are looking at longer term polices in respect of night time culture and media respectively.
There has already been some key changes for the sports and tourism sectors in April. These include the reopening of outdoor visitor attractions, outdoor sports facilities and the return of underage non-contact outdoor training in pods of 15.
As we come into the summer months more activity can take place outside. Fáilte Ireland’s Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme, which is being delivered in partnership with the local authorities, aims to develop outdoor dining capacity nationwide with a budget of €17million. €5m will also be allocated by my Department to local authorities to facilitate programming of outdoor live performances in summer 2021 animating town centres for local communities, should public health considerations permit. It will allow for the procurement by local authorities of performances by local performers.
Minister Chambers is engaging with the National Governing Bodies both bilaterally and through the COVID-19 Sports Monitoring Group with regard to the supports required in the period ahead.
The Government's - The Path Ahead - plan particularly recognises the need for bespoke sectoral supports to address the worst impacted sectors like Tourism and Culture in the forthcoming National Economic Recovery Plan.
I am resolved to continue to work with stakeholders across my sectors to monitor the evolving situation and to work with my Government colleagues to support these sectors not just during this pandemic, but into the all-important recovery phase which will follow it.
Over the coming months, as the restrictions ease and the vaccine programme is rolled-out, we will see the safe and successful reopening of our society, and with it our Tourism sector, our Arts and Culture venues and events, and the eventual welcoming back of fans to our sports grounds.
