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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 July 2021

Tuesday, 13 July 2021

Ceisteanna (303, 313)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

303. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if musicians and bands are being refused access to the music entertainment business assistance scheme if they do not operate exclusively in the commercial live entertainment industry; if so, the details of same; and if she will reconsider this restriction given the vast majority of live musicians also seek to generate income from non-live music activities such as recording. [37357/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

313. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the process by which applicants for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme can appeal a rejection of their application; if her attention has been drawn to situations in which an appeal found that an application should not have been rejected but asked the applicant to recommence their application from the start once again rather than granting them the funding they had been incorrectly denied; and her views on the fairness or unfairness of such an appeals process to musicians and entertainers who have been waiting for funding for months. [37977/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 313 together.

As part of a €50 million suite of supports for the live entertainment sector, an allocation of €14m has been made available for the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS). The aim of this scheme is to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses, specifically musicians and related crew, that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19, have not been able to perform or stage performances and do not qualify for other business supports.  The main features of this new scheme will see support offered by way of three levels of flat payments:

- €2,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €20,000 - €50,000 with minimum business costs of €3,000 incurred from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2021.

- €4,000 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €50,001- €100,000 with minimum business costs of €6,000 from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2021.

- €5,000 for businesses with VAT-exclusive turnover in excess of €100,000 with minimum business costs of €7,500 from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2021.

Under the scheme, self-employed businesses including musicians, singers, lighting and sound crew and audio equipment suppliers operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector are eligible to apply. Applications may be made via the MEBAS application portal on my Department’s website.  The application window for this scheme has recently been extended to 21 July 2021.

Details in relation to the appeals process for this scheme is available on my Department's website here www.gov.ie/en/publication/20a97-music-and-entertainment-business-assistance-scheme-guidelines/#appeals.

Officials in my Department are engaging with applicants where an appeal has been made on the basis that the applicant has stated that they have supplied incorrect information on their application form and now wish to have a revised application considered.

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