Written Answers Nos. 36-55
36. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent of any ongoing discussions she continues to have with the major stakeholders throughout the tourism, entertainment, sport, arts, media and culture sectors with a view to monitoring the progress to date in the alleviation of the impact of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47901/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 17 of today.
The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant and ongoing impact on the operating landscape for the sectors my Department supports. Throughout the pandemic, I have been actively working with and for the sectors within my remit to ensure that they are supported. My focus for these engagements is both to find ways to support the sectors during the period of the pandemic as well as charting a path for their recovery after the crisis has passed. In this regard, I established a number of fora and taskforces where sectoral stakeholders brought their experiences, ideas and policy proposals to my attention. These include:
- Tourism Recovery Oversight Group;
- The Hospitality and Tourism Forum which I co-chair with An Tánaiste;
- The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce;
- The Sports Monitoring Group and Expert Group on the Return to Sport;
- Live Entertainment Working Group; and
- Night-time Economy Taskforce.
Many of the actions contained in the reports produced by the Tourism Recovery Oversight Group, Arts and Culture Recovery and the Night-Time Economy Taskforces’ are actively being implemented by my Department, in partnership with other Government stakeholders, and I consider these as essential inputs to our journey towards recovery.
Regular meetings of the Sports Monitoring Group at which NGBs provide up-to-date assessments of the status of their operations and the progress being made in relation to the resumption of their particular sports allow Minister Chambers and I to keep up to date on the ongoing COVID-19 impacts to the sports sector.
My officials and I have also engaged with stakeholders in the media sector in relation to the impact of COVID-19. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is reporting to me quarterly on the impacts of COVID-19 on the independent radio sector.
I am continuing to work with colleagues across Government to ensure that the sectors within my remit were provided with a range of financial supports and pandemic recovery measures. These include the horizontal measures of the PUP, EWSS and CRSS.
Within my own Department, tailored funding measures have been introduced to support all of the sectors under my remit, in specific response to the pandemic, as well as to reflect commitments in the Programme for Government and ongoing policy to support, empower and grow these sectors.
These measures include a range of funding streams for the arts and live entertainment sector, an Adaptation Fund and a Business Continuity Scheme for the tourism sector delivered through Fáilte Ireland, a funding package for the sport sector, and Gaeltacht supports.
The sectors under my remit are at the heart of our identity as a people and the pandemic has demonstrated very clearly the critical role they play in social and economic well-being. The resilience of these sectors, in the face of the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic, has been remarkable, particularly as many were among the first sectors to close and are the last to return to full capacity.
Recognising that resilience and the hugely important role that these sectors play in Ireland's collective economic and social well-being, I will continue to work with the stakeholders to monitor the evolving situation and to work with my Government colleagues to support these sectors and, with officials and Government colleagues, to support a strong and stable recovery as we emerge from the pandemic.
37. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of plans for a full return of indoor sports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47927/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe resumption of indoor sports training and indoor physical activity has been permitted on an individual basis since 7 June. In line with the Government's recently published plan, COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting, there was a further significant easing of restrictions on organised indoor sporting activities from the 20th of September. This has permitted, inter alia, the resumption of indoor training on a group basis in accordance with the conditions and limits specified in the Government's plan.
Sport Ireland has also published on its website a guidance note that assists the sector in understanding the changes applicable to sport:
www.sportireland.ie/covid19/return-to-sport-and-physical-activity
Further details and updated guidance will also be available from the various National Governing Bodies (NGBs). Sport Ireland maintains a close liaison with the NGBs and provides guidance to them as required.
Having regard to the incidence and behaviour of the COVID-19 disease at the time, the Government intends to remove further statutory restrictions in respect of events and activities from the 22nd of October. This is set to include the lifting of remaining restrictions on indoor sporting activity.
I recently met representatives of the sports sector, including some indoor sports, at which it was apparent that there is a broad welcome to the Government's plan which has generated renewed and improved confidence within the sector and is facilitating a resurgence of interest and commitment amongst sporting organisations, their volunteers and their club memberships. The pace and extent of the return to both indoor and outdoor sports, within the prevailing permitted parameters, is ultimately a matter for each individual sport and is significantly dependent on the capacity of the various sporting organisations and clubs to decide at local level on how best to return.
38. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the efforts that are being undertaken to provide general solutions which will help with costs in the arts sector; and the investigation her Department has made into specific measures to alleviate the costs for the arts sector. [47793/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary support for the arts, including support for a wide range of cultural venues, is delivered by the Arts Council. In 2021, the Government allocated €130m to the Arts Council which is an increase of 62% over the amount initially allocated for 2020. The Arts Council is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003. The Arts Council announced details of its investment plans last February and this included a range of initiatives aimed at supporting artists and arts organisations.
From the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, the Arts Council adopted a pro-active approach to supporting individual artists of all genres as well as arts and culture organisations. One of the Council's first actions was its announcement to honour all existing funding commitments, pre-funding grantees up to 90% of funding to assist with commitments, especially to artists. Since then, the Arts Council have also introduced new and enhanced funding programmes. Further information of these investments can be accessed on the Arts Council’s website.
In 2021, I allocated €50 million for a suite of measures to assist the live performance sector aimed at supporting employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public. Included in this package are the following measures:
- Grants amounting to €25m under the 2021 Live Performance Support Scheme, in addition to €5m in 2020.
- €14m has been made available for the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses, specifically musicians and related crew, that have been negatively affected by COVID-19 and that do not qualify for other business supports. This Scheme is a demand led scheme a second round is opening shortly.
- An allocation of €5 million was provided to local authorities for live performances in summer 2021 to animate town centres, should public health considerations permit.
- Up to €1 million was allocated to the St Patrick's Festival 2021 for programming and it supported over 3,500 days of employment for performers, producers, artists, technicians, creatives and support staff.
- €11.5m was provided for the entertainment industry, including festivals.
In addition, the Government's horizontal payments were available to the arts sector including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
39. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will reconsider her Department's refusal to fund transport costs to allow children in rural schools to attend events in arts centres and theatres in order to provide equal access to the arts. [47969/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am firmly committed to enhancing opportunities for children and young people to participate in the arts and creative activities. The Creative Youth Plan was published in December 2017 as one of the five pillars of the Creative Ireland Programme. The Plan sets out a number of measures designed to enable the creative potential of every young person, both within the formal education system and in informal or community settings.
Implementation of the Plan is led by my Department in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Arts Council.
The Creative Youth Plan has supported the roll-out of a number of new schools-based initiatives which aim to provide greater opportunity to whole school communities to engage with all forms of creativity – principally the Creative Schools programme, managed by the Arts Council, and Creative Clusters, a Schools Excellence Fund initiative of the Department of Education.
Within the support package for participating schools is an annual grant to enable them to develop and implement their planning and project work. Schools have complete discretion in the use of such grants – whether to further engage with local creative practitioners or to take the opportunity to visit external sites.
Since these two initiatives commenced in 2018, almost one thousand schools have been given the opportunity to engage with arts, culture and creativity in new ways, helping to enrich the learning experience of thousands of children and young people.
These programmes together with other Creative Youth initiatives, such as the Teacher Artist Partnership and Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers, aim to provide opportunities for schools to bring arts and creativity into the classroom, through collaboration with established artists.
In addition to these schools-based programmes, the Creative Ireland Programme continues to support a range of partners across the youth and cultural sectors, to enhance and increase equitable access to creative activities for young people. These include providing more creative writing opportunities, enhanced access to youth drama, and more recently providing better opportunities for youth groups to experience creative technologies. Key in this regard has been the establishment of Cruinniú na nÓg – the annual day of free creative activities for children and young people under 18 years of age. Cruinniú is funded by my department and delivered by the 31 local authorities. This year for example, on Saturday 12th June, my department’s support enabled over 630 events and activities to take place right around the country.
Expenditure on school transport costs is solely a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education. Similarly, the question of transport provision for school activities such as visits to arts centres, theatres and other cultural activities is a matter for Minister Foley and local school managers.
40. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the campaign by a group (details supplied); if she will examine the need for a pool facility in this part of County Wicklow; and if she will consider meeting the volunteer board to discuss the project and its plans going forward. [47459/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Sports Policy as published in 2018 provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The scheme is designed for projects where the grant being sought is greater than the maximum grant available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP). The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and thus far, approximately €86.4m has been awarded to 33 different proposals.
An application was received from Wicklow County Council in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy but was not awarded a grant under the first set of allocations. All applications under the LSSIF were assessed in accordance with the published scoring criteria. The total funding applied for under the scheme significantly exceeded the amount available to allocate and the project referred to by the Deputy did not score sufficiently highly to be awarded a grant under this first set of allocations.
While the priority in the short term is to advance all of the successful projects, as it is now over 18 months since the first allocations were made, and in view of the issues faced by grantees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to review progress on all projects allocated grants. My Department is engaging with all grantees in this regard. The scope for awarding new grants to projects which missed out under the first set of allocations is being considered as part of this review as is the timing of any new call for proposals. It is expected that the review will be completed in the coming months.
With regard to a meeting to discuss the project, my officials are always available in the first instance to meet clubs and groups to discuss their proposals for sporting infrastructure.
42. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the measures that are being examined to allow for the blended income streams, yearly fluctuations and short-term employment opportunities available for workers in the arts sector,## to support continuous ongoing participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47792/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am critically aware of the devastating impact that Covid-19 has had on all areas of the arts and cultural sector, and I have personally met with numerous representative organisations and officials in my Department, including those mentioned by the Deputy, and have continued contact with these organisations and others on a regular basis throughout the pandemic.
My priorities for the budget, beyond securing funding for a Pilot Basic Income Guarantee Scheme for Artists and Arts Workers, is to secure funding to support the full recovery of the arts/culture and live entertainment sectors in 2022. The Government understands that the full return of live performance will not happen overnight. I am examining the supports in place for the sector to ensure that available resources are best deployed to meet the needs of the sector to ensure a full recovery is possible.
In relation to the Basic Income Guarantee pilot, the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector. I believe the delivery of this pilot will be key to underpinning the recovery in the arts and culture sector and will provide much needed certainty to the artists and creatives who choose to avail of the pilot scheme.
I was delighted that as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, I secured a commitment from Government to prioritise the development of a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for the arts and cultural sector.
I established an Oversight Group to appraise the recommendations in the Life Worth Living report and asked that they prioritise the examination of the Recommendation on a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists and arts workers. The Oversight Group has provided me with a preliminary report on the different options for a 3 year pilot scheme which I am currently considering. I expect to be making a proposal for a Basic Income Guarantee pilot as part of the Budget 2022 discussions, after which further details should be available on how the pilot scheme will be progressed.
I envision that this pilot should launch in early 2022 and I believe it will bring new life and support to the Arts and Cultural Sector, after the difficult circumstances they have endured over the last year and a half.
Further stakeholder engagement will take place between my Department and those in the Sector to ensure that this pilot meets the needs of the sector alongside the objectives agreed by the Oversight Group.
43. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department's role in the certification of section 481 film relief and in monitoring compliance with the quality employment and training conditions of that relief; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47960/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for a certificate for qualifying films for the purpose of Section 481 tax relief are received and processed by officials in my Department and a Certificate is issued if the application complies with the requirements of Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended, and the Film Tax Regulations 2019.
Where a certificate is issued in relation to a qualifying film, and all provisions of Section 481 have been complied with, a producer company may make a claim to the Revenue Commissioners for the film corporation tax credit.
Where eligible expenditure is expected to be under €2 million, a skills development plan is submitted directly to this Department. For all projects where eligible expenditure is expected to exceed €2 million, the Producer Company must submit a Skills Development Plan to Screen Skills Ireland which is the training division of Screen Ireland for approval. A letter from Screen Ireland stating it has reviewed and approved the Skills Development Plan should accompany the application.
The 2019 Film Tax Regulations include a requirement for a signed undertaking to be provided from the producer company and the qualifying company to comply with all obligations in the field of environmental, social and employment law. The producer company and the qualifying company must be responsible for compliance with all statutory requirements of an employer, and have in place written policies and procedures on Grievances, Discipline and Dignity at Work (including harassment, bullying and equal opportunity). The companies are also required to provide details of any Work Place Relations Commission decisions aligned with confirmation that any findings against the companies have been followed or an explanation where the finding has not been followed.
It is also a requirement that a post-project skills development report be submitted to Screen Ireland for monitoring of the quality of the training.
If a producer does not comply with the employment and skills development requirements they may not be eligible for the corporation tax credit. The monitoring of compliance with employment rights legislation is the responsibility of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Labour Court, which are the mechanisms for regulating employment law in the State and which are under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Should the WRC determine that a company in receipt of section 481 tax relief has not complied with the relevant employment rights legislation, any amounts claimed may be recoverable with interest.
44. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on marketing the area encompassed by Tipperary town, Cashel and Cahir, County Tipperary as a unique tourism destination; if she will engage with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to discuss this idea; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35871/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s main role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy development. Implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
The marketing of the area encompassed by Tipperary town, Cashel and Cahir is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. I have asked the two tourism agencies to provide the Deputy with further information on their work marketing, developing and promoting tourism in Tipperary and Ireland generally. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
45. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the cases raised in an article in a newspaper (details supplied); the steps she will take to address the flaws in the system to ensure that artists with disabilities are not faced with such barriers; and if she will arrange to meet with organisations as a matter of urgency to prepare a solution. [47943/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter of the amounts of income disregards that are allowed in order to qualify for social assistance payments such as Disability Allowance, are solely a matter for my colleague the Minister for Social Protection.
The Arts Council, as the Government agency with responsibility for the arts and artists, provides specific supports for artists with disabilities. The Council funds key agencies that have a central role in supporting these areas of work including Arts and Disability Ireland and others. All awards and schemes operated by the Arts Council are informed by the Arts Council‘s Equality, Human Rights & Diversity Policy & Strategy as well as its Paying the Artist policy.
Access to participation in arts and culture is one of the cornerstones of national cultural policy. Culture 2025 underpins the right of everyone to participate in the cultural and creative life of the nation. As Minister, I work with the Council of National Cultural Institutions to encourage the development of access to all audiences, including for people with disabilities.
46. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will report on the allocations made under the outdoor service enhancement scheme which has provided payments of up to €4,000 to non-food serving pubs and bars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47981/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the matter to Fáilte Ireland for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
47. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her strategies to address labour supply and skills requirements in the tourism and hospitality sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47931/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra52. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the strategies to support businesses and jobs in the tourism hospitality sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47921/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra74. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the scale of the staff shortages which affected the hospitality sector; and the measures being put in place to assist the sector. [47847/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 52 and 74 together.
Recruitment continues to be a significant challenge for the tourism and hospitality sector, with up to two-thirds of businesses reporting reduced capacity due to staff shortages.
Fáilte Ireland is currently carrying out research, both from an employer and employee perspective, to gain an understanding of the challenges facing employers and why workers are leaving or not returning to the sector. This research will help inform any further initiatives required to address staffing and skill shortages for the sector.
Fáilte Ireland also chairs the Tourism and Hospitality Careers Oversight Group (COG) which works closely with industry bodies, education providers and other Government bodies to support sustainable employment in the tourism sector with an immediate focus on recruitment and retention initiatives.
My Department and Fáilte Ireland are collaborating with industry and other Government Departments to ensure that there is a coordinated approach to addressing the labour and skills shortages in tourism.
Informed by the recommendations in the latest report from the Recovery Oversight Group, and in the context of Budget 2022, I am working with officials and Government colleagues to establish what further supports can be put in place for the tourism sector.
48. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she has taken to reduce gender disparity on Irish radio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47956/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to supporting progress on gender equality across society, and all areas under my remit.
The Programme for Government provided for the establishment of the Future of Media Commission to consider the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion. The Future of Media Commission has considered the issue of diversity and equality in its deliberations and I am aware that submissions were made to the Commission by Women on Air, an advocacy group for the representation of women on broadcasting media, and by the Equality Expert Group, a collective of experts drawn from a variety of fields, public and private, seeking to support equality and diversity in Irish social, economic and cultural life.
The work of the Future of Media Commission has now been completed. The Taoiseach and I have received the report and are considering its contents. The Report will be brought to Government for consideration in due course, and we will then decide on next steps, including in respect of gender equality.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory framework for the regulation of sound broadcasting services. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is the independent regulator for sound broadcasting content in the State. Commercial radio stations are subject to contractual obligations, including public service commitments with the BAI, which are agreed upon during the licensing process. Compliance with such obligations is monitored by the BAI.
My officials have proactively engaged with the BAI who have been involved in a number of positive actions in relation to gender balance:
- BAI are currently conducting a review of their Gender Action plan which will inform the development of a new Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
- BAI are working with Learning Waves, the training body for the commercial radio sector, to survey all radio broadcasters to gather information regarding diversity/gender policies and processes for commercial radio broadcasters. This is an important step forward for building an evidence base against which future progress can be measured.
- The BAI has recently launched two reports on diversity and inclusion which were funded through the BAI Media Research Funding Scheme: Auditing Gender & Diversity Change in Irish Media Sectors; and RTÉ & COVID-19 - Diversity and Inclusion and Meeting Public Needs. The reports demonstrate the appetite, among industry players, for increasing diversity and inclusion in the media workforce.
- Under the BAI’s Sound & Vision Funding Scheme, the assessment of applications has included consideration of the number of women in key creative roles, as a measure to support greater gender equality in the industry. This information is then used as an assessment criterion as part of the BAI’s assessment process.
- In addition, Media Literacy Ireland held a webinar on 19th July focusing on ‘media literacy and the representation of women in media’ . This webinar looked at the role media literacy can play in bringing about better representation of women in media.
In my recent attendance at the AGM of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, I took the opportunity to encourage their members to play their part in ensuring that women are given a voice both on and off air, in their management structures, among presenters and in terms of those artists given airtime.
My officials continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders in order to further explore appropriate approaches to support gender balance on our broadcasting services.
51. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to promote the Irish tourism and hospitality sector in 2022. [47942/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s main role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy development. Implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
The promotion of Irish tourism to and within the State is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. I have asked the two tourism agencies to provide the Deputy with further information on their plans for promoting Irish tourism in 2022. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
53. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a four month delay is typical in the case of an application by a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47970/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 24 (2) of the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is independent in the distribution of the funding provided to it by the Exchequer through my Department. This means that I am precluded by law from interfering in the Council's funding decisions.
54. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to encourage a sports for all approach across sport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47929/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport for all is an ethos that emphasises inclusion within sport and is accordingly entirely consistent with the Government's policies in this area. Our policy approach is aimed at ensuring that all persons have the opportunity to partake equally in sport and physical activity, regardless of age, social-economic status, disability, or membership of, for example, the LGBTI+ community, the Traveller community or other ethnic minorities. Increasing participation amongst these groups is a core objective of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027.
I will soon be launching a Sports Action Plan covering the period to end 2023, which will include a series of actions and initiatives aimed at increasing participation levels across the board. The plan's emphasis will be geared towards increasing inclusion, diversity and equality in sport.
My Department is also funding a wide range of projects from the Dormant Accounts funds that are specifically aimed at increasing participation levels amongst disadvantaged communities and people with a disability. The total amount of funding being allocated for such projects this year is €10M, twice the amount that prevailed a number of years ago.
Finally, I would also like to emphasise the important contribution that Sport Ireland makes in this area. Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. The Deputy will be interested to note that Sport Ireland is in the process of developing a specific Diversity and Inclusion policy which is expected to be launched by the end of this year.
55. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the case of a club (details supplied) and the need to upgrade existing pitch facilities to accommodate the growing club; and if she will consider a visit to the club to meet the board to discuss its strategy going forward. [47101/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1st March 2021. By the closing date, over 3,100 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.
The scoring system and assessment procedures were published earlier this year and all applications are being assessed accordingly. Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6m were announced on the 6th August.
The remaining applications for capital works, including an application from the club referenced by the Deputy, are now being assessed. Given the large number of applications received, this work is likely to take a number of months to complete with allocations expected to be announced before the end of this year.
Subject to diary commitments, when visiting any area I endeavour to engage with as many sports clubs as possible and would be happy to visit the club at the next suitable opportunity.
