Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
404. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the outcomes that are foreseen from the €25 million in extra funding promised in live entertainment supports in budget 2022; the breakdown of the way this will be distributed; and if it will not take a similar delay again to the eight months artists waited in 2021 for live entertainment supports to be distributed following budget 2021. [50749/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra411. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has cut the funding for the live entertainment sector allocated in Budget 2021 by half in Budget 2022; and the reason she is forcing such cuts on the independent and commercial sectors while they are struggling to recover and at the same time, maintaining funding for the traditionally funded arts sectors at €130 million, inclusive of the increase in 2021. [50757/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 411 together.
I am acutely aware of the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the arts/culture and live entertainment sectors. I have engaged with numerous stakeholders in the sector during the course of the pandemic to ensure that appropriate supports were put in place.
As part of Budget 2022 I have allocated €25m for continuing supports for the Live Entertainment Sector. While the equivalent figure for 2021 was €50m the Deputy must bear in mind that during 2021 the country was subject to significant levels of restrictions with either no live performance or very small numbers permitted for the period January to September and as a result significant levels of subvention for the commercial sector was required to protect the viability of the sector.
At present, the expectation is that such significant restrictions won't be required in 2022 and therefore lower levels of subvention may be required when the sector returns to full capacity. Of course, the Government is aware both that it will take time for the sector to return to full capacity and that Covid restrictions could become necessary again in 2022. To this end, as part of Budget 2022, my colleague Pascal Donohoe T.D., Minister for Finance, has created a Covid contingency fund of €4bn for next year. This fund will provide certainty and flexibility for the public finances should the situation with the virus deteriorate unexpectedly over the coming year.
I understand 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. This €25m will build on the supports provided by my Department during the pandemic including the LPSS, LLPSS, MEBAS, ESCSS and CECGS schemes. I will ensure that those funds are made available early in the new year and am confident that this funding will help drive employment opportunities and activity in the sector.
In addition, the €25m I allocated under the Live Performance Support Scheme and the €5m I allocated under the Local Live Performance Support Scheme is currently supporting events across the entire country, with live performances and events happening in every county.
