Written Answers Nos. 56-75
58. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will support the demands by groups (details supplied) for the implementation of the universal basic income for those working in arts, music and entertainment and the other additional supports that they are requesting in advance of budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47959/21]
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 endeavoured to make sure that the voices of those in this sector have been heard. 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 Basic Income Pilot 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 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.
59. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an aontaíonn sí leis an taighde ar theaghlaigh de chuid Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta a sheol an tAire Stáit Jack Chambers a deir go bhfuil géarchéim sa Ghaeltacht maidir le labhairt na Gaeilge, agus an bhfuil sé i gceist aici plean éigeandála a ullmhú agus a chur i bhfeidhm chun athchóiriú a dhéanamh ar an nGaeltacht. [47947/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAr an gcead dul síos, ba mhaith liom a rá go bhfáiltím roimh an taighde is deireanaí ó Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta “Staidéar ar theaghlaigh atá ag tógáil a gclann le Gaeilge laistigh de na Limistéir Oifigiúla Gaeltachta”. Gan dabht, is píosa tábhachtach taighde atá anseo, a sheol mé fhéin go pearsanta ar son Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, a bheidh ina áis do mo Roinn agus d'eagraíochtaí eile atá ag feidhmiú san earnáil Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht.
Is sampla é don sár-obair atá ar siúl ag Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta sa Ghaeltacht agus bhí me an-sásta go raibh ar mo chumas níos túisce i mbliana, allúntas suas le €1.6m thar an tréimhse 2021 go 2023 a cheadú don eagraíocht. Cuirfidh an t-allúntas seo ar chumas na heagraíochta - a bhfuil seisear feidhmeannach fostaithe acu anois - cur leis an raon gníomhaíochtaí agus tacaíochtaí atá á riar acu sna ceantair Ghaeltachta éagsúla mar thaca breise d’fheidhmiú an phróisis pleanála teanga agus an pholasaí don oideachas Gaeltachta araon.
Aontaím go bhfuil dúshláin maidir le staid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht mar a aithnítear sa tuarascáil. Ní féidir le haon duine a shéanadh go bhfuil géarchéim ann sna ceantair Gaeltachta is laige. Mar is eol don Teachta, is í an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010–2030 bunchloch pholasaí an Rialtais i leith na Gaeilge. Tá úinéireacht trasRannach ag an Straitéis agus baineann an fhreagracht as í a chur i bhfeidhm, dá réir, le raon Ranna Rialtais, forais agus eagraíochtaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Is í mo Roinn atá freagrach as cur chun feidhme na Straitéise a chomhordú.
Mar a cuireadh in iúl roimhe seo, tá raon moltaí á gcur i bhfeidhm i láthair na huaire sa Straitéis a bhaineann leis na naoi réimse seo a leanas: Oideachas; an Ghaeltacht; an Teaghlach ag Cur na Teanga ar Aghaidh - Idirghabháil go Luath; Riarachán; Seirbhísí agus Pobal; na Meáin agus an Teicneolaíocht; Foclóirí; Reachtaíocht agus Stádas; Saol Eacnamaíochta agus Tionscnaimh Leathana.
Leagtar amach sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta 5 bliana don Ghaeilge, a thacaíonn le cur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise, os cionn 180 beart a chuirfidh tuairim is 60 páirtí leasmhar i bhfeidhm thar tréimhse cúig bliana, ar mhaithe le forfheidhmiú na Straitéise agus ar leas na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta dá réir. Is í mo Roinn atá freagrach as comhordú a dhéanamh ar fhorfheidhmiú agus monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar an bPlean. Tá an dara tuairisc bhliantúil maidir lena chur i bhfeidhm á ullmhú faoi láthair agus súil é a fhoilsiú go luath. Táim ag súil go mbeidh sé le sonrú sa tuairisc sin nuair atá sé foilsithe go bhfuil gníomhaíochtaí an Phlean ag tacú leis an nGaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus lasmuigh de, in ainneoin tionchar na paindéime ar ghnóthaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta.
Is fiú dom a lua gur tháinig ardú suntasach de €14.8m ar an leithdháileadh don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht atá san áireamh i mbuiséad 2021. Fágann sé seo go bhfuil breis is €78m san iomlán á chur ar fáil ag mo Roinn sa bhliain reatha mar thacaíocht don Ghaeilge.
Ar ndóigh, tá obair shuntasach ar siúl ag mo Roinn i dtaca le caomhnú agus treisiú na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus go deimhin, lasmuigh de. Tá seo á dhéanamh trí raon beartais, scéimeanna agus tionscnaimh atá á mhaoiniú agus á gcur i bhfeidhm ag mo Roinn. Luafainn go sonrach roinnt bearta ábhartha:
An Próiseas Pleanála Teanga
Tá an próiseas pleanála teanga á chur i bhfeidhm faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012. Faoin bpróiseas, tá deis á tabhairt do phobal na Gaeltachta, mar aon le pobail na mBailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta agus na Líonraí Gaeilge, pleananna teanga a ullmhú agus a fheidhmiú ar bhonn áitiúil. Cuirtear tacaíocht leanúnach thar thréimhse 7 mbliana ar fáil d’aon phlean teanga a cheadaítear faoin bpróiseas. Tá borradh tagtha ar an bpleanáil teanga le roinnt blianta anuas agus pleananna teanga do 24 limistéar pleanála teanga ceadaithe agus i mbun oibre. Tá 18 Oifigeach Phleanála Teanga agus 4 Oifigeach Cúnta Pleanála Teanga ceaptha chun a phleananna teanga a chur i bhfeidhm ina gceantair áitiúla. Ina theannta sin, tá cheithre Bhaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta a thacóidh leis an nGaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ceadaithe freisin, mar aon le 3 Líonra Gaeilge.
Chomh maith le Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, tacaíonn mo Roinn le Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta agus Ealaín na Gaeltachta chun tacaíocht ar leith a chur ar fáil don phróiseas pleanála teanga freisin. San iomlán, tá maoiniú suas le €5m ar fáil ó mo Roinn don phleanáil teanga sa bhliain reatha.
An Clár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga
Tá suas le €10.2m le caitheamh ag mo Roinn faoin gClár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga in 2021. Le maoiniú ón gclár seo cuirtear tacaíocht reatha agus chaipitil ar fáil do thionscadail agus d’eagraíochtaí Gaeltachta, i gcomhréir leis na bearta ábhartha atá sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta don Ghaeilge 2018-2022 agus le tacú ar an iomlán leis an Straitéis 20-Bliain agus an próiseas pleanála Teanga.
Údarás na Gaeltachta
Mar chuid de cháinaisnéis 2021, tá cistíocht bhreise ar fiú beagnach €4.5m ceadaithe don Údarás sa bhliain reatha faoin gciste caipitil - rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil soláthar caipitil de bheagnach €14.5m ar fáil don Údarás le tabhairt faoina chlár forbartha, fiontraíochta agus fostaíochta agus chun tacú le comhlachtaí Gaeltachta.
Lena chois sin tá soláthar méadaithe de €700,000 fógartha i dtreo buiséad maoinithe na gComharchumann agus Coistí Forbartha Pobail Gaeltachta atá faoina stiúir mar fhoras stáit - rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil buiséad iomlán de €4.75m dó seo sa bhliain reatha.
Cuideoidh an t-ardú suntasach atá curtha ar bhuiséad Údarás na Gaeltachta don bhliain reatha leis an eagraíocht cur lena cuid gníomhaíochtaí ar mhaithe leis an nGaeilge sa Ghaeltacht.
Mar a dúirt mé thuas, is cinnte go bhfuil dúshláin maidir le staid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ach tá céimeanna á dtógáil agus dul chun cinn á dhéanamh chun an oidhreacht bheo seo a thabhairt ar aghaidh don chéad ghlúin eile. Sa tréimhse amach romhainn, beidh an Rialtas seo, agus mo Roinnse ag obair go dícheallach leis na geallshealbhóirí uile, ag leibhéal an stáit agus an phobail chun na spriocanna atá leagtha amach sa Straitéis 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge, an Plean Gníomhaíochta agus an phróiseas pleanála teanga araon a chur i gcrích.
60. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has met recently with the Media Commission; and when she expects its report to be finalised. [47848/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, expanded the remit of the Public Service Broadcasting Commission to become the Future of Media Commission. On 29 September 2020, the Government agreed the terms of reference and membership of the Future of Media Commission. It was tasked with considering the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion. Chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, it held its inaugural meeting on 29 October 2020.
The commission engaged comprehensively with stakeholders, including broadcasters, journalists, publishers, regional media and the wider public.
The first phase of the Future of Media Commission public consultation, which ran from December 12th 2020 to January 8th 2021, resulted in over 800 written submissions from stakeholder groups and the general public on a wide range of themes.
At the end of January 2021, the Commission began a series of thematic dialogues through online webinars in which panels of experts explored key themes in more depth and answered follow-up questions from the virtual audience and the Commission members. The webinars and the public consultations mentioned earlier are all available on the Future of Media Commission’s website.
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. We met recently with the Chair of the Commission and the Report will be brought to Government for consideration in due course.
61. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of persons who were tested for Covid-19 before and after each of the live test events that took place throughout summer 2021; the location of the testing results that took place as part of safety measures; the way the results are being used to develop plans for reopening the live entertainment sector; and the reason the guidelines drawn up for live events as discussed by the Return to Live Entertainment Working Group at its meeting on 5 June 2021, were never published or used. [47946/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, in conjunction with the Live Entertainment Working Group, has developed guidance for the safe return to live events. This document called "Covid-19 Guidelines for Event Organisers and Venue Management" was published on my Department's website on the 14th of September and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/35bb8-covid-19-sectoral-guidance/
My Department assisted with a number of pilot events this year. These were necessary as a proof of concept for the safe management of events whilst COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities and in order to evaluate, inform and build confidence in the COVID-19 guidance and event management protocols developed to assist the sector.
The pilot events used a range of measures to mitigate against COVID-19 including reduced attendances, social distancing, mask-wearing, hand sanitising, contact tracing, the careful management of ingress and egress of audiences and spectators and appropriate ventilation for indoor events and, in some cases antigen testing.
Antigen testing was deployed for the concert event at IMMA on 3 July. 3,500 patrons were in attendance, of whom 500 were health care workers. The measures employed were reviewed and no cases of Covid-19 were linked to the Concert.On the 30 September, a nightclub pilot event was held in the Button Factory in Dublin with 450 attendees, with all attendees receiving an antigen test prior to entry.
62. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé mhéad airgid ón Státchiste nó ón gceadúnas teilifíse atá curtha ar fáil i mbliana do TG4; cé mhéad airgid atá curtha ar fáil do RTÉ ar an mbonn céanna; cén bunús atá le cionroinnt an airgid sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47897/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTagann an chuid is mó de mhaoiniú TG4 ón státchiste, le roinnt ioncam tráchtála, agus ní mhaoinítear é le hairgead ó tháillí ceadúnais. Fuair mé €3.5m breise do TG4 i mbliana, ag tabhairt a leithdháileadh iomlán státchiste suas go €40.733m. Tá an íocaíocht seo ó 2021 comhdhéanta de mhaoiniú caipitil de €4m agus maoiniú reatha de €36.733m.
Tagann maoiniú RTÉ ó ioncam tráchtála agus ó fháltais tháillí ceadúnais araon. Cuimsíonn fáltais tháillí ceadúnais díolachán díreach An Post, a ghníomhaíonn mar mo ghníomhaire eisiúna faoi Alt 145 den Acht Craolacháin 2009 agus ranníocaíocht ón Roinn Cosanta Sóisialta i leith ceadúnas saor in aisce a eisítear faoin Scéim um Shochar Teaghlaigh. Rinneadh foráil do 69.787m in 2021 maidir le ceadúnais saor in aisce. Ní bheimid in ann an méid iomlán a fuarthas trí dhíolachán díreach cheadúnais teilifíse nó leithdháileadh foriomlán RTÉ a oibriú amach go dtí deireadh na bliana, mar sin, ach sa bhliain 2020 fuair RTÉ €197.645m san iomlán ó fháltais cheadúnais teilifíse.
Dáileann mo Roinnse an t-airgead go léir ó Tháillí Cheadúnais Teilifíse a fhaightear sa bhliain chéanna a fhaightear é gan aon tabhairt ar aghaidh de réir an Achta Craolacháin 2009. Soláthraíonn sé seo íocaíocht le An Post i gcomhair bailithe, 7% de na glanfháltais le Ciste Craolacháin Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann agus an t-iarmhéid le RTÉ. Go dtí seo (30 Meán Fómhair 2021) fuair RTÉ €144.9m i bhfáltais cheadúnais teilifíse ó mo Roinnse.
Leagfar amach mionsonraí faoin gcaoi a gcaitheann RTÉ agus TG4 a gcuid airgid in 2021 ina dTuarascáil Bhliantúil agus ina gcuid Cuntas don bhliain nuair a fhoilseofar iad in 2022.
65. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a universal basic income payment is still to be piloted for the arts sector in 2022; the rationale for changing the type of payment proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47918/21]
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 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 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.
66. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the Commission on the Future of Media in Ireland; when the report of the Commission is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47852/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Future of Media Commission, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, held its inaugural meeting on 29 October 2020. It was tasked with considering the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion.
The commission engaged comprehensively with stakeholders, including broadcasters, journalists, publishers, regional media and the wider public. The first phase of the Future of Media Commission public consultation, which ran from December 12th 2020 to January 8th 2021, resulted in over 800 written submissions from stakeholder groups and the general public on a wide range of themes.
At the end of January 2021, the Commission began a series of thematic dialogues through online webinars in which panels of experts explored key themes in more depth and answered follow-up questions from the virtual audience and the Commission members. The webinars and the public consultations mentioned earlier are all available on the Future of Media Commission’s website.
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 and the Report will be brought to Government for consideration in due course.
67. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad é líon na nOifigeach Óige atá ag freastal ar na ceantair Ghaeltachta éagsúla, cad é líon na bhfolúntas atá ann agus a bhí ann le 2 bhliain anuas; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47912/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs faoi stiúir na heagraíochta Muintearas a fheidhmíonn faoi scáth foriomlán Údarás na Gaeltachta a chuirtear i bhfeidhm clár oibre mar a bhaineann sé le gnóthaí óige sa Ghaeltacht.
Tá Bainisteoir Óige lán-aimseartha ag Muintearas Teo lonnaithe i gceanncheathrú na heagraíochta i dTír an Fhia, Co. na Gaillimhe. Ina theannta sin, tá Oifigeach Forbartha Óige lán-aimseartha lonnaithe san ionad céanna agus ag feidhmiú i réigiún Chonnacht/Laighean.
Tá Oifigeach Forbartha Óige lán-aimseartha fostaithe chun freastal ar Dhún na nGall, agus tá an tOifigeach sin lonnaithe in oifig Mhuintearais i nGaoth Dobhair, Co. Dhún na nGall.
Tá Oifigeach Forbartha Óige lán-aimseartha fostaithe chun freastal ar Chúige Mumhan, agus tá an tOifigeach sin lonnaithe sa Rinn, Co. Phort Láirge.
Ní raibh na hIonaid Óige atá faoi chúraim Mhuintearas abálta feidhmiú ó mhí Mhárta 2020 de bharr srianta COVID-19.
Tá próiseas earcaíochta ar bun faoi láthair chun Oifigeach Forbartha Óige páirt-aimseartha a fhostú d'Ionad Óige Ghaoth Dobhair, agus táthar ag súil leis an ionad sin a oscailt tar éis an 22 Deireadh Fómhair 2021.
Tuigtear don Roinn go bhfuil sé i gceist beirt Oifigeach Forbartha Óige páirt-aimseartha a earcú do d'Ionad Óige Iorras Aithneach, beirt do Chlub Déagóirí Ros Muc agus beirt eile do Chrib na nÓg ar an gCeathrú Rua nuair a bheidh deireadh le srianta COVID-19.
Chomh maith leis seo ar fad, tá an Clár TechSpace ar an bhfód ó 2015 chun cabhrú le daoine óga ábhar digiteach agus teicneolaíochta a chruthú agus iad i mbun gníomhaíochtaí ar nós scannáin dhigiteacha, dearadh gréasáin, forbairt aipeanna soghluaiste agus róbataic. Is iad Kinia, nó Camara Education Ireland mar is fearr aithne orthu, atá i mbun an tionscadal seo atá á mhaoiniú ag mo Roinn ó 2015 i leith.
Tá 12 oifigeach san iomlán fostaithe ag Kinia chun an Clár TechSpace a chur i bhfeidhm, le seachtar n-oifigeach ag freastal ar Ghaeltacht agus cathair na Gaillimhe, oifigeach amháin ag freastal ar Ghaeltacht Dhún na nGall, oifigeach amháin ag freastal ar Ghaeltacht Mhaigh Eo, oifigeach amháin ag freastal ar Ghaeltacht Chiarraí, oifigeach ag freastal ar Ghaeltacht na Mí, agus oifigeach amháin ag clúdach Gaeltacht na Rinne agus Corcaigh.
D’eascair 6 fholúntas as an gClár TechSpace le dhá bhliain anuas agus tá folúntas amháin le líonadh i láthair na huaire.
Mar a bhaineann sé leis an Roinn go díreach is fiú a lua go ndéantar riar ar raon beartas ar bhonn leanúnach le cúnamh díreach na Roinne faoi scáth An Chláir Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga atá ar leas aos óg na Gaeltachta lena n-áirítear; Cuisle (Ealaín na Gaeltachta), Clár na gCluichí Gaelacha (Comhairle Chonnacht agus Comhairle na Mumhan), Scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh (Muintearas) agus ar bhonn ginearálta Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge - ar leas breis agus 26,000 duine óg in aghaidh na bliana - idir scoláirí dara agus tríú leibhéal.
Lena chois sin, baintear leas leanúnach as an gciste caipitil a fheidhmítear faoi scáth an chláir chun áiseanna caitheamh aimsire agus spóirt a sholáthar fud fad na Gaeltachta ar leas an aosa óig.
68. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way the arts sector has used Departmental funding to advance and support the artistic community over the past year and the resulted benefits to the arts community and wider communities across Ireland; the way she plans to support resources for the arts community going forward (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47936/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe arts, music and entertainment sectors were among the first sectors to be hit by the crisis and will take longer to recover than most. I understand the devastating impact that Covid-19 has had on all areas of the arts and I have endeavoured to make sure that the voices of those in this sector have been heard and that concrete measures are in place to support the sector. I have personally met with, and continue to meet with, a wide range of organisations and businesses. Officials in my Department are involved in ongoing and meaningful engagement with the numerous organisations and lobby groups in the sector. This ensures that I have the most up-to-date information to ensure appropriate supports were delivered for the sector.
In 2021, public investment in the arts through the Arts Council has reached a historically high level of €130 million. Throughout the crisis, the Arts Council has been focused on protecting jobs and livelihoods of artists and arts workers, assisting arts organisations experiencing financial difficulties, working to encourage audiences to re-engage with in-person events in a safe environment, and supporting and developing the sector more broadly. New foundations for sustainability were also laid in 2020/2021 through the operation of the Arts Council's Sustainability Fund.
A detailed report and analysis of the Arts Council’s response to the Covid-19 crisis for the arts in 2020/2021 has been published by the Council and can be accessed at this link: www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/wwwartscouncilie/Content/Publications/Research_reports/Our%20Covid%20Response%20(July%202021).pdf. It also contains research on the pandemic’s impacts on cultural organisations, artists and audiences.
In addition, my Department and the Arts Council have introduced a range of measures in response to the recommendations set out in Life Worth Living, the report of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce.
In the area of live performance, a combination of horizontal state supports in the form of the PUP and EWSS and sector specific supports offered by my Department provided enhanced stability for the sector. My Department's supports included the MEBAS scheme, the Events Sector COVID Support Scheme and the Live Performance Support Scheme as well as supports local authority live events programming.
69. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to increase supports for Irish speakers accessing State services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47920/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 will be before Dáil Éireann at Report Stage this week. The primary purpose of the Bill is to amend the Official Languages Act 2003 with a view to increasing and improving the provision of public services through the Irish language. Central to these efforts will be a series of provisions which aim to increase the number of Irish speakers recruited to the public service.
The increased and improved provision of public services though the Irish language will ensure that issues regarding the provision of State services through Irish to both Irish speakers and Gaeltacht communities will be addressed, along with challenges and opportunities regarding the recruitment of Irish speakers to public bodies. Among the measures to be introduced by the Bill is the introduction of language standards to replace language schemes.
The publication of the Official Languages Amendment Bill in 2019 was broadly welcomed at the time. However, a number of concerns were expressed on the need for target dates or a timetable for initiatives provided for in the Bill. In order to address these concerns, I will be bringing 32 amendments before the House at Report Stage. Key amendments include the following measures:
- A requirement that 20% of new recruits to the public service be competent in the Irish language by 31st December 2030.
- An obligation on the Minister to specify by Regulation - within 3 months of receipt of the National Plan for the Provision of Irish-Medium Public Services already provided for in the Bill - dates by which all public services will be provided in Irish in each of the 26 statutory Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas and by which all public offices in these Language Planning Areas will operate through the medium of Irish. This provision will complement the provisions contained in the Gaeltacht Act 2012 relating to the development of language plans in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, the full implementation of which will depend greatly on the provision of public services in the Irish language to these communities.
- A requirement that each public body carry out at least 20% of its annual advertising in the Irish language and 5% in the Irish language media.
- A requirement that the use of the síneadh fada be accommodated in all ICT systems operated by public bodies.
- A requirement for any commercial operator providing public services under contract to a public body to make provision for the use of the Irish language as part of those services.
- The replacement of the Placenames Commission with a statutory Placenames Committee to advise the Minister with regard to the making of Placenames Orders.
These amendments will further strengthen the Bill and thus the rights of Irish language speakers.
70. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the third Covid support package currently being developed for coláiste samhraidh will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47913/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently established a fund worth €2.2m to support eligible Gaeltacht families who normally provide accommodation for summer college students. This funding is being provided on foot of the cancellation of Irish language courses for the second summer in succession due to COVID-19.
Under a second and separate measure, further funding of c €240,000 is being provided by my Department to support the running of Gaeltacht community halls normally used by summer colleges.
Preparatory work in developing a third support measure, on foot of detailed engagement with all of the colleges, is nearing completion and I hope to formally announce the result of this process shortly.
The overall objective of all of these measures is to support the sector in making a full return to normal service in 2022, thus enabling it to continue to contribute to the systematic effort being made to support the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in line with overarching objectives of the Government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and the accompanying 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022.
72. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will work with the Minister for Education to create a national strategy for the arts in schools, with dedicated funding, in order that all children and young persons may enjoy the benefits from participation and exposure to the arts. [47957/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Creative Youth Plan was published by Government in December 2017 as one of the five pillars of the Creative Ireland Programme. It set out a range of measures designed to enable the creative potential of every young person, both within the formal education system and in community settings. While the Creative Youth Plan aims to promote engagement in creative activities in the broadest sense, it embraces amongst other things the arts as a mechanism through which children and young people can experience creativity.
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. Significant progress on the delivery of its objectives has been achieved to date, and details are available from the Creative Ireland Programme website.
While Creative Youth is not specifically an Arts in Education strategy it does support a number of specific education-based initiatives which aim to provide greater opportunity to whole school communities to engage with all forms of creativity. It is worth noting that the Plan proposes a broader long-term objective – to help promote a society in which knowledge and creativity are equal partners in the formation of our young people and where schools can support creativity and innovation in teaching and learning in an integrated way.
Creative Schools, which is delivered by the Arts Council, supports schools to put arts and creativity at the heart of school life, supporting them to develop and implement their own creative plan, while strengthening the relationships between schools and the broader cultural and community infrastructure. The Creative Clusters Programme, a programme delivered by my colleague Minister Foley, enables groups of up to five schools to collaborate on an innovative arts and creative projects to address a common issue or challenge. Earlier this year Minister Foley also announced a new initiative, titled BLAST (Bringing Live Arts to Schools and Teachers), which will support up to 400 new artist residencies in schools each year.
In addition to these programmes, Creative Youth also supports Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes for teachers at both primary and post-primary. While the focus of this CPD is wider than arts, it encompasses the arts and endeavours to ensure that children and young people enjoy the benefits from participation and exposure to the arts and creative activities.
While my Department continues to support the Creative Youth initiatives, primary responsibility for engagement with the arts as part of the school curriculum rests with my colleague, Minister Foley.
73. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to support the tourism sector, which was disproportionately negatively impacted by the pandemic. [47941/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the Economic Recovery Plan published earlier this year the Government confirmed its commitment to provide supports for the sectors worst affected, including tourism. Tourism businesses have benefited from the VAT rate reduction and other economy wide measures such as the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the commercial rates waiver.
In Budget 2021 I secured a record level of funding of just under €221m for tourism, including €55 million for Fáilte Ireland's Tourism Business Continuity Scheme to help tourism businesses. This provided a direct financial contribution to support business continuity plans and contribute towards fixed costs.
Supports provided in 2020 included the €26m Covid-19 Adaptation Grant, the €10m Coach Tourism Operators Business Continuity Scheme and the €10m Ireland Based Inbound Agents Business Continuity Scheme. Fáilte Ireland also administered the €8m Restart Grant Plus for B&Bs, published and updated reopening operational guidelines for a range of tourism businesses, as well as introducing the Covid-19 Safety Charter.
Earlier this year I was pleased to announce Fáilte Ireland’s new Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme, which has facilitated? greater capacity in? outdoor dining? by supporting Local Authorities and hospitality businesses with?upgrading and enhancing streets and public spaces and implementing weather-proofing solutions which will facilitate year-round outdoor dining.?
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.
75. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department will undertake a feasibility study and liaise with Donegal County Council and other relevant statutory bodies with responsibility for the development of tourism in the north-west to identify an appropriate funding stream for the design and construction of a rope-bridge structure at the Owencarrow Viaducts in Creeslough, County Donegal. [47907/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. Implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as other bodies. With regard to tourism product development, decisions regarding funding priorities are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to respond directly to the Deputy with further information on its collaboration with Donegal County Council on tourism generally and its views on the rope-bridge structure about which the Deputy is enquiring.
