Written Answers Nos. 1-31
6. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will confirm the action that her Department is taking to market and promote the island of Ireland overseas as an attractive place to visit in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3203/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce an additional €15 million in funding for overseas marketing which will enable Tourism Ireland to significantly ramp up its promotion of Ireland as a world-class tourism experience in key markets. As global tourism competition heightens, sustaining extensive marketing campaigns will be vital to support the ongoing recovery effort.
As part of its marketing strategy, Tourism Ireland established a recovery framework to RESTART, REBUILD and ultimately REDESIGN demand. In 2022, the focus was to RESTART overseas tourism to the island of Ireland. As Tourism Ireland now moves to the REBUILD phase, it will roll out an extensive and targeted programme of activity in 2023, with a total marketing budget of €78 million. A wide range of promotional activities will be undertaken, including major marketing campaigns, publicity and programming, social media and digital marketing, as well as working with the tourism industry at home and the travel trade overseas to facilitate sales.
Last week, I helped to launch Tourism Ireland’s new global campaign, "Fill your heart with Ireland", which will include TV advertising in our top four markets - Great Britain, the United States, Germany and France - as well as localised and targeted advertising in all target markets across the globe. A number of supporting campaigns are also planned, including campaigns around St Patrick’s Day, Halloween, the Ryder Cup and The Open in golf, luxury travel, as well as outdoor activities.
Tourism Ireland will also capitalise on a number of special opportunities which are set to take place this year, including the Notre Dame vs. Navy college football game in August, various other sports tourism opportunities, the 50th anniversary of Kerrygold in Germany and a collaboration with Riverdance in the United States, Canada, Germany and the Middle East.
Screen tourism opportunities will be leveraged throughout the year, including opportunities around popular movies and TV shows filmed here, such as The Banshees of Inisherin, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Vikings: Valhalla and Derry Girls .
In addition, Tourism Ireland will continue to work with airlines and ferry companies through a programme of jointly funded marketing initiatives to support the restoration of air and sea access routes to the regions, which are so vital for tourism’s return to growth.
Economic, social and environmental sustainability will be at the heart of Tourism Ireland’s work over the coming years, driving greater economic prosperity and benefiting communities right across the island, while at the same time increasing our consideration of the environmental impacts of tourism.
9. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of organisations that have adopted the safe to create programme’s code of conduct; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3554/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Safe to Create is a Dignity at Work programme aimed at bringing change on the culture and practices of the arts sector in Ireland. It is a framework of supports to assist organisations to provide safer working conditions for artists and arts workers.
I launched the Safe to Create programme on 5 October 2022. The programme includes a Code of Behaviour developed for organisations that are encouraged to adopt and therefore enable arts and creative organisations to provide workplaces free from bullying, harassment and intimidation. Each organisation wishing to adopt the Code is required to have Board approval in advance of signing. To date 17 organisations have already formally notified the Irish Theatre Institute that they have signed the Safe to Create Code of Conduct. I am informed that a number of other organisations have commenced the process and plan to formally adopt and sign the Code in the coming weeks. It is my intention to announce and publish the names of early adopters of the Code in the coming weeks. Thereafter, all the names of the organisations adopting the Code will be published as they sign.
The Safe to Create programme is managed by the Irish Theatre Institute, on behalf of the Department and in partnership with the Arts Council, Screen Ireland and Minding Creative Minds. The planned outcome of the Programme is to transform culture and practices through training, information, voluntary compliance and certification, and provide key support for victims/survivors in the areas of reporting, counselling, and legal advice. I also announced funding of over €800,000 for the Programme in 2023.
The Safe to Create website provides a Dignity at Work Toolkit for organisations and individuals in the creative sector. It features practical information, guidance, toolkits and templates for artists, arts workers and organisations on ‘Dignity at Work’ rights and responsibilities.
There is a 24-hour wellbeing and support programme provided to everyone in the arts, culture and creative sectors by Minding Creative Minds. It includes specialist trauma and abuse counselling for victims of harmful behaviour via a free 24/7 dedicated phone line; confidential one-to-one counselling; and access to legal advice.
Safe to Create online courses in tackling bullying and harassment, addressing unconscious bias in the workplace and Bystander intervention were developed in partnership with Screen Ireland specifically for the arts and creative sectors.
15. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has engaged in any discussions with a sporting club (details supplied) with regards to the much-needed redevelopment of a stadium. [3707/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the stadium referred to by the Deputy is owned by Dublin City Council, any decision on the future redevelopment of the ground is a matter for the Council in the first instance. In terms of my role regarding the development of largescale sporting infrastructure, my Department provides grant assistance for sporting facilities through the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).The SCEP is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas. The stadium referred to by the Deputy has received funding under the Programme previously. The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted. The final set of allocations under the 2020 round were announced at the end of May last year and the total allocation of €166.6 million represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. My Department is currently finalising a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. I expect to be in a position to publish this Review shortly. Any recommendations arising from the finalised Review will be reflected in the next round. Furthermore, my officials are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the next round of the SCEP. Once this process is concluded, I will announce the exact dates from which new applications will be accepted.The National Sports Policy published in 2018 provided for the establishment of the LSSIF. The aim of the fund is to provide support for larger sports facilities where the Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the SCEP. Approximately €86.4 million has been allocated to 33 projects to date including an allocation of €918,750 to Dublin City Council towards the overall design cost for the redevelopment of the nearby Dalymount stadium.While it is not proposed to open the LSSIF for new applications at present, my Department is undertaking a review of the LSSIF which is expected to be complete in the near future. This review will look at, inter alia, progress on all existing grants and the timing of a new call for proposals will also be considered. Any future application for funding for Tolka Park under either the SCEP or LSSIF will be considered on its own merits in line with the relevant assessment criteria.
16. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the plans that are in place to promote the Famine walkway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3660/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFáilte Ireland is working with its project partners to develop a strong pipeline of exciting new or significantly improved visitor experiences. The National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park House is a key visitor experience in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, encouraging domestic and international visitors to come and explore Strokestown and the surrounding area, and generating significant economic benefits for the local community.
Officially opened in October 2022, the National Famine Museum benefitted from a Fáilte Ireland grant of €3.9 million and is expected to attract 115,000 visitors annually. This is expected to generate an additional €25 million for the local economy within ten years of opening. This Museum is a valuable and sustainable resource, which will act as a centre for knowledge and learning for this generation and the next.
This has been one of Fáilte Ireland's largest investments in a visitor attraction to date. The National Famine Museum also represents the start of the historical National Famine Way, a walking and cycling trail that follows in the footsteps of the 1,490 people who were forced to emigrate from the Strokestown Estate in 1847. The trail links Strokestown with Dublin along the flat and well-surfaced paths by the Royal Canal.
In 2022, Fáilte Ireland provided a number of supports to the National Famine Way team. These supports assisted the National Famine Way team in developing a robust sales and marketing plan both offline and online to target domestic and international walking markets.
These supports provided:
- A clear focus on target markets, both domestic and international, and how to target them;
- Priorities across messaging and priority content to maximise effectiveness of plan;
- A focus on the media channels to drive both online and offline sales;
- Clear action plans to include timelines, key performance indicators and ownership to deliver the objectives; and
- Messaging to target domestic and international walking markets.
In 2023, the National Famine Way Team has been invited to participate in a broader destination development initiative, the Greenway Activation Programme. This programme offers an exceptional opportunity for tourism businesses to optimise the tourism potential of Greenways, including those along the Royal Canal, improving the visitor experience and their commercial performance. As part of this programme, Greenway partners will be supported through training and skills development and delivery of a promotional campaign.
17. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the night-time economy forum which she recently attended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3709/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Night-Time Economy Forum which I attended last week in the National Gallery of Ireland was hosted and led by the Arts Council and supported by my Department as part of the overall effort to drive a more diverse and sustainable Night-Time Economy. The forum was in direct response to Action 3 in the Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report which I launched in September 2021.
Since we launched the Taskforce Report, we have seen some concrete results and progress across the 36 actions in that report but what is just as important for me is regular contact with artists, promoters and venue owners so we can talk about the issues impacting them frankly and openly and try and find solutions together and also to discuss the many opportunities out there in the Night-Time Economy.
Last week’s forum brought together a range of international, national and local perspectives on emerging trends and initiatives in relation to the development of the arts and the Night-Time economy. The Forum aimed to encourage new initiatives and partnerships and new thinking to support the role of the arts in creating a vibrant night-time economy.
Some of the topics discussed at the forum included insights and learning from other international cities and towns and how culture and the Night-Time Economy connect in innovative ways and the benefits to artists, venues and cultural organisations of a more diverse and inclusive Night-Time Economy.
I would like to thank the Arts Council for providing this opportunity and bringing such a diverse range of people together and also to the attendees and speakers who provided important insights on their own experiences of the Night-Time Economy.
The Forum also heard from a number of artists with a disability and how they navigate the Night-Time Economy which provided a powerful insight into some of the challenges facing practitioners, audiences, venues and businesses operating in the Night-Time Economy.
I understand that the Arts Council will be engaging further on the issues raised at the forum and I intend to work with the Arts Council and others to support and assist where necessary to ensure that opportunities in the NTE are maximised. The Taskforce Report Implementation Group, which my Department chairs, will also ensure that all of the actions in the Report are progressed and that our Night-Time Economy can grow and thrive.
18. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of artists in Dublin Bay north that are in receipt of the basic income for the arts scheme. [3572/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra19. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of artists in Cork south-west who are in receipt of the basic income for the arts scheme. [3555/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra32. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of artists in Dún Laoghaire that are in receipt of the basic income for the arts scheme. [3557/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra67. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of artists in counties Cavan and Monaghan that are in receipt of the basic income for the arts scheme. [3553/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra70. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of artists in Cork north-west who are in receipt of the basic income for the arts scheme. [3549/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 19, 32, 67 and 70 together.
The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot is a key priority for me as Minister with responsibility for arts and culture. The pilot was the number one recommendation of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce which I established in 2020 to examine how best to assist the sector to recover post-pandemic. I was very pleased to have been able to deliver on this recommendation with payments on the scheme having commenced in October.
This is a research project and the main element of the research programme is a longitudinal study with the same survey being delivered every 6 months for 3 years. The data collected as part of the research will inform future Government policy in relation to how best to support artists.
2,000 recipients will be paid €325 a week for three years. 1,000 control group members will be paid €650 per year to engage in the data collection. The scheme will cost €35m per year (€105m in total).
Over 9,000 applications were made under the scheme with over 8,200 assessed as eligible according to the published guidelines for the scheme. Eligible applications were then included in a randomised anonymous process to select the 2,000 BIA recipients and the control group of 1,000 participants. This process was overseen by EY acting as an independent verifier.
The 2,000 recipients include representatives from all art forms, age groups, ethnicities and counties.
Research findings on the impact of the pilot on the individuals and their practices, the sector and ecology of the arts in Ireland will form part of the pilot also. The research involved will inform future Government policy in the arts and has the potential to change the landscape of the arts in Ireland and how we fund it.
For geographical breakdown, applicants were asked to specify which county or area of Dublin they live in and (in an optional question) whether they live in an urban or rural setting. Overall, almost two thirds of applicants live in urban areas, while a little more than one third live in rural areas. They were not asked to specify their electoral constituency.
The geographical breakdown information I can give is as follows:
21 recipients of the Basic Income payment stated on their application that they are from county Cavan and 14 are from county Monaghan.
There are 211 recipients in total who are based in county Cork. 91 of these county Cork based recipients described where they live as Rural and 116 described their location as Urban. 4 did not specify.
Applicants in Dublin provided information of their postal district. The total of BIA recipients who are based in Dublin is 765.
The BIA research will examine, over a three-year period, the impact of a basic income style payment on artists and creative arts workers. I have established the scheme very firmly as a research project so that an evidence base can be developed around the impact of the policy. I am very grateful to all the applicants who agreed to participate in the control group; being able to compare and track their careers against those who will receive the BIA will be essential in demonstrating the impact of the payment on artists and their creative practices.
Participants will be surveyed at least twice a year. Focus groups, interviews and seminars will also happen to collect more qualitative data on how the scheme is impacting participant’s lives. Baselining research information has been received from recipients who have accepted their place on the scheme.
The BIA makes a strong statement at home and abroad about the value that Ireland as a nation places on artistic practice both for its intrinsic value and in terms of our personal and collective wellbeing, and also in terms of its importance to our identity and cultural distinctiveness on the global stage.
The Government wants to give recognition to the value of the arts and the role of creative practice in Irish society. I believe that the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme is a once in a generation, transformational measure in the funding of the arts in Ireland.
21. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there will be increased funding or new funding streams for an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3661/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOperating on a non-commercial and voluntary basis, the organisation to which the Deputy refers is the national organisation for the promotion of tradition music and dance, language and culture. I am very conscious of their tremendous achievement through programmes of education and training, special performances, regional and local events and the operation of their established centres throughout Ireland. Classes are provided at all levels in music and dance and performances are a showcase at home and abroad for this important expression of national culture and identity.
The organisation in question has been in receipt of direct support from my Department by way of it's annual allocation. I was pleased that this provision could be increased to €2,000,000 for 2022. This funding has been complemented from time to time by special allocations as specific needs are brought to attention in the continuous liaison between the organisation and the Department, - notably of late including:-
- special provision for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann restarting in Mullingar in 2022 having been suppressed by COVID controls in the two previous years,
- support for the Cothromaíocht programme to put in place structures and safeguards throughout the organisation for safety, equality and fairness, especially with regard to young people, and
- an assistance package to address energy cost increases on the Cultúrlann and the other centres around Ireland.
The contribution by local authorities through amenity development, urban renewal and services provision towards the Fleadh can be a significant investment. I believe it is a good investment that is rewarded quickly with tourism and hospitality revenues and the promotion of the urban area to a very large audience. I appreciate that the organisational effort of the Fleadh Cheoil has consistently been well supported through direct assistance from the local authorities. The Deputy will recall our meeting with the Organising Committee from Mullingar re their preparations for the Fleadh. In addition to the provision of €100,000 from my Department, there was a further €150,000 approved from the Local Government Fund within the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.
I welcome this increasing recognition of the significant stimulus to the local economy for the host town and community that can be achieved through the Fleadh Cheoil. I am confident that the Organising Committees will continue to build on that recognition in the future. I think it is important also to acknowledge that the support of local businesses and the community is an important strand of Fleadh arrangements. These great festivals attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and enthusiasts over the duration would not be possible without financial support from businesses and the voluntary effort of the community in preparing and managing the event safely for all to enjoy.
In addition to the support provided to the organisation, many of its regional and local branches have sought funding from other schemes over a number of years. Under the Small Scale Local Festival and Summer School Funding Scheme, CCE branches received a total of €18,000 in 2022, €4,000 in 2021, €3,000 in 2019 and €3,000 in 2018.
The organisation also receives capital funding from this Department, which over the last number of years has been as follows;
2021 €42,454,
2019 101,077, and
2018 €9,100.
The dialogue between my Department and the organisation in relation to the allocation for 2023 has not yet concluded. When this is finalised a letter of offer will issue from the Department directly to the organisation and I will arrange that the outcome is also notified to the Deputy.
22. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the campaign to have a permanent public pool constructed in Blessington, County Wicklow following the success of a temporary pop-up pool installation; if she will consider meeting the campaign team to discuss the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3061/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the campaign to have a permanent pool in the Blessington area.
In relation to my Department's responsibilities, capital funding for new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools was previously provided through the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP). A total of 52 pools has been completed under the LASPP and three swimming pool projects (Lucan, Buncrana and Edenderry) remain in the programme with the Lucan project currently under construction.
My Department's capital support for any new swimming pools is now being provided through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The National Development Plan provided a capital allocation of at least €100 million for the Fund over the period to 2027. The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport. The first allocations were announced in January 2020 and thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals including 8 swimming pool projects.
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. The priority in the short term is to advance all LSSIF projects, including the swimming pools, to construction stage.
In relation to future swimming pool funding, my Department is currently undertaking a review of progress on all existing LSSIF grants. As part of this review, my Department is also considering the timing of any new call for proposals. The review work is at an advanced stage and is expected to be finalised shortly.
Furthermore, work has advanced on the development of the first National Swimming Strategy based on a vision to ‘provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim’. The Working Group tasked with the detailed work of preparing the strategy is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives from relevant NGBs and stakeholders. An extensive consultation process has been undertaken across both stakeholders and the public and work is ongoing on the analysis of the very large number of responses received to ensure that the Strategy encompasses all of the issues raised to the greatest extent possible. It is hoped to finalise the new Strategy in the coming months and it will further guide future swimming pool investment policy. While I am always happy to meet groups seeking to improve our sport infrastructure, I feel it would be better to arrange such a meeting after the Swimming Strategy is finalised at which time I would be happy to meet the group.
23. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department intends to undertake a mid-term review of the basic income for the arts scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3551/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot was a key priority for me as Minister with responsibility for arts and culture. I see this scheme as an important intervention to support the arts sector recover after the devastation wreaked by the Covid pandemic. Covid highlighted both the precarious nature of working in the arts and the importance of the arts for us all.
The pilot was also the number one recommendation of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce which I established in 2020 to examine ways in which to help the arts recover post pandemic. I was very pleased to have been able to deliver on this recommendation. Payments on the scheme have been ongoing to recipients since the end of October.
The pilot scheme includes a research programme which will examine, over a three-year period, the impact of a basic income style payment on artists and creative arts workers. As such evaluation will be continuous, including through a longitudinal study which will see participants surveyed every six months. The data gathered as part of the research will provide an evidence base around the impact of the policy.
The scheme is a randomised control trial which consists of two groups of randomly selected people. One will receive the basic income – the treatment group, while the other, – the control group, won’t receive the BIA. Analysis of the results will involve a comparison of averages between the two groups. As the groups have the same characteristics at baseline and are large enough to be a statistically representative sample, any difference arising during the trial can be assumed to have been caused by the policy.
The research project is being undertaken by a group of economists and policy analysts who are all members of IGEES (the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service). In addition, the ESRI and IGESS will provide peer review support around methodology and research papers being produced as part of the project. Data collected will be made available to independent researchers should they want to do their own research on related topics of interest.
24. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what concrete proposals she intends to take to combat the dearth of artistic venues in the city of Dublin. [3706/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUrban planning and development policy is primarily a matter for local authorities and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. County and city development plans are drawn up by local authorities in accordance with their functions under the Planning and Development Acts. In this context I understand that the Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028 was recently adopted and it came into effect on 14 December 2022.
I am aware of the particular issues in the city of Dublin and the difficulties in the provision of artistic venues here. In recognition of these issues, Dublin City Council has received a capital allocation from my Department of up to €3 million specifically to assist the Council in the provision of artists’ workspaces in the capital. The City Council is currently working to identify develop and make available a range of artists workspaces. The Council may use this funding to provide workspaces for artists in a single development or in a number of locations in the city.
Last year, I launched and rolled out the Night-Time Economy (NTE) Support Scheme in support of Actions 1 and 12 of the NTE Taskforce Report with an allocation of €4 million. This Scheme provided support for cultural activity in pubs, nightclubs, cafés and other suitable licensed and unlicensed premises during off-peak times. Over 470 applications were received with well over 2,000 events taking place across the country including Dublin City.
Last year, I allocated €2m for capital works to commercial entertainment venues throughout Ireland under the Commercial Entertainment Capital Grant Scheme and this support allowed businesses in the sector to survive the pandemic and stimulated their continuing recovery.
Recent decades have seen the development of a nationwide infrastructure of arts centres including venues overseen by local authorities and supported through my Department’s capital schemes. These investment programmes, will see the delivery of significant redevelopments in our cultural institutions and arts and cultural centres citywide.
The Arts Council currently provides programming and revenue supports to a range of arts centres in Dublin city. Record funding of €130m annual funding for the Arts Council continues to be in place for the third year running. The Council is exploring, with Dublin Port Company, the possibility of creating artists workspaces in buildings in the port area.
Under the Creative Ireland Programme, my Department has partnered with other departments and local authorities with substantial investment to deliver thousands of community-led creative projects many in Dublin city.
25. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the efforts she has made in respect of funding for independent, regional and community radio stations; if she will outline any future plans for funding for these important areas within media circles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3616/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very much aware of the importance of regional, local and community radio, and the crucial role it plays as part of the wider media landscape. Since taking office, I have ensured that significantly increased supports have been made available to the broadcasting sector as a whole, and to the radio sector in particular.
Funding for radio is currently made available through the Sound and Vision Scheme for the production of programming on Irish culture, heritage and experience. The Scheme, which is administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, is funded by 7% the television licence fee and can be augmented by Exchequer funding.
Since taking office, I have secured an additional €22.4m in Exchequer funding to the scheme, of which €7.5m has been ring-fenced for independent commercial radio, including an allocation of €2.5m to the BAI which I announced in December and which will be distributed this year.
A further €1.2m has been ring-fenced for community radio since I took office.
With regard to examining any potential future supports, it is important that we have robust and independent data to support any decisions that might be made. As such, and as I set out in the Dáil on 30 November 2022, I have asked the BAI to engage with the sector with a view to understanding the dynamics of the current economic environment and its impacts on the sector and to report back to me in March.
While the Broadcasting Act does not allow for the funding of news and current affairs programming, in Budget 2023 I secured an allocation of €6m for the establishment of a new Media Fund as recommended by the Future of Media Commission. This will initially fund two schemes on an administrative basis, for Local Democracy Reporting and Court Reporting. While the schemes will be open to all media, I expect that local media will be well-placed to benefit significantly. It is intended that these schemes, which are to be administered by Coimisiún na Meán, will be rolled out later this year.
26. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department intends to re-open the basic income for the arts scheme for additional applications, given that approximately only 2,000 individuals are in receipt of the scheme. [3573/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra40. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans, if any, to extend the basic income for the arts pilot scheme, given that the pilot scheme is due to run only until 2025. [3579/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 40 together.
The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot is a key priority for me as Minister with responsibility for arts and culture.
2,000 recipients are being paid €325 a week for three years. 1,000 control group members are being paid €650 per year to engage in the data collection. The scheme will cost €35m per year (€105m in total).
All 2,000 places have been allocated and accepted. The scheme is a pilot research scheme and is operating within a limited budget. It is not my intention to increase the number of recipients for the scheme at this time.
The research will examine, over a three-year period, the impact of a basic income style payment on artists and creative arts workers. The scheme recognises that there is a vast body of often unpaid or underpaid time that goes into the making of the creative work that we as a society enjoy. The ambition of the scheme is that, by providing the security of a basic income, artists and creative arts workers can focus on artistic work and be in a position to increase their earnings from their creative practice as a self-employed artist/creative.
I believe that the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme is a once in a generation, transformational measure in the funding of the arts in Ireland. It makes a strong statement at home and abroad about the value that Ireland as a nation places on artistic practice both for its intrinsic value and in terms of our personal and collective wellbeing, and also in terms of its importance to our identity and cultural distinctiveness on the global stage.
While I have no plans to increase the number of participants in the pilot scheme, the research involved will inform future Government policy in the arts and has the potential to change the landscape of the arts in Ireland and how we fund it.
27. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding that is available to support athletes representing Ireland at international competitions with their travel and accommodation expenses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3644/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland operates two key athlete funding supports, an International Carding Scheme for individual athletes and High Performance Programme funding to relevant National Governing Bodies of sport.
The Sport Ireland International Carding Scheme has been in operation since 1999. The Scheme provides direct funding to individual athletes to support their training and competition costs. It is a criteria-based scheme with the top Irish athletes across Olympic and Paralympic sports receiving funding. In 2022, Sport Ireland invested €3.8 million under the International Carding Scheme.
High Performance Programme Funding is also provided by Sport Ireland to National Governing Bodies to support the delivery of their performance programmes. This funding supports a range of activities including training camps and competitions, pathway development, performance services and performance team salaries. These programmes are central to supporting Irish athletes and teams in reaching finals and achieving medals at European and World Championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games. Over €20 million has been invested in 2022.
These funding supports, matched with the continued maturity of Ireland’s high performance system, ensure that the majority of the costs incurred (all of the costs in most cases) by athletes representing Ireland are covered by the athlete’s respective National Governing Body.
28. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the incentives, if any, in place to encourage the provision of tourist accommodation in areas where a lack of such accommodation is evident; if she will carry out an audit of such accommodation needs nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2852/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra63. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has carried out, or would consider carrying out, a review of hotel and other tourist accommodation provision and availability across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2851/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 63 together.
Fáilte Ireland is currently working on Accommodation Audits to establish a baseline on existing capacity and to provide gap analysis in each destination and region. As part of the roll out of all Destination Experience Development Plans, Fáilte Ireland will audit and map out current accommodation stock. This will include a quality and gap analysis (if any) for additional accommodation development on a county-by-county basis.
Fáilte Ireland will use these audits to inform Local Authorities as they shape their own tourism accommodation strategies. For example, to ensure that tourist accommodation development is clearly identified in future county development plans, Fáilte Ireland will make recommendations on the optimum accommodation mix to fill any gaps in the market.
This work will assist my Department which has initiated the development of a new National Sustainable Tourism Policy. The development of this new policy will involve extensive consultation with the tourism industry and our communities to help set out a path for the coming years which will support a sustainable recovery and development in the sector.
29. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the action she is taking to ensure that Foras na Gaeilge can reopen the scéim forbartha líonra Gaeilge to accept applications from new entrants and where applicable, allow current beneficiaries to move up to the next tier; the reason, given the lack of a functioning executive in the north and the need for cross-border agreement on Foras na Gaeilge budgets, that her Department has not determined an alternative route for funding and support of scéim forbartha líonra Gaeilge-qualified groups, for example, through a ciste na Gaeilge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3645/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraScéim Forbartha Líonraí Gaeilge is Foras na Gaeilge’s multi-annual community scheme to promote, protect and engrain the Irish language in particular areas with an emphasis on the development and implementation of comprehensive language plans for the areas that are part of the scheme.
In accordance with government policy on the Irish language, the emphasis of this scheme is on longer term and more strategic planning following the principles of language planning. The scheme began in January 2022 and has funding committed up to December 2024. It is expected that a further iteration of this scheme will be advertised in 2024.
Structured progression has been built into this scheme with a focus on the current stage of development of the applicant. Three stages of development have been developed as part of this scheme: higher level, intermediate level and basic level.
There are currently 36 Irish language groups funded through the scheme, including 9 grantees within a number of the areas which have already been designated as Irish Language Networks / Gaeltacht Service Towns. The remaining 27 grantees under the scheme are at various levels depending on their current stage of development.
The basic level is focused on areas with groups or committees that are in the initial stages of their language planning journey. These organisations implement programmes that include three recognised language planning themes.
The intermediate level is focused on those areas that have long-established groups that have already laid the groundwork for language planning. These organisations implement programmes in which at least six recognised language planning themes have been included.
The higher level gives recognition to areas that have achieved status as Irish language networks or as Gaeltacht service towns through having had a language plan approved by my Department, if applicable, in accordance with the Gaeltacht Act 2012 in the south, or approved by Foras na Gaeilge in the north.
It would be hoped that groups at the basic and intermediate levels would progress over time to the next level subject to successful implementation of their agreed multi-annual programmes.
My Department co-sponsors An Foras Teanga, the North South Language Body, along with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. On this basis, all matters relating to the North South Language Body budget are jointly agreed with the Department for Communities and approved at North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meetings.
My Department has again provided an additional allocation of €700,000 for North South Cooperation in its budget for 2023. Unfortunately, however, it is not currently possible to release this funding to the Language Body due to the absence of formal meetings of the NSMC.
30. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to ensure that sports clubs and associations in disadvantaged areas receive adequate support and funding. [3580/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) sports programme, operated by Sport Ireland on behalf of my Department, is the primary funding stream deployed exclusively to promote increased sports participation amongst disadvantaged communities and people with a disability. This programme provides financial supports to a wide range of locally inspired community projects undertaken by local sports clubs, associations and other interested parties generally, under the active guidance of the Local Sports Partnerships. In 2023, the total amount of DAF funding being allocated for such projects is €12 million, more than twice the amount available a number of years ago.
Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the promotion of sports participation across all communities. Its general funding programmes and activities also contribute positively to sports clubs and associations in disadvantaged communities. A current funding allocation of €89.7 million has been announced for Sport Ireland in Budget 2023. This allocation will enable Sport Ireland to continue to support the sport sector this year. Details of funding allocations to individual National Governing Bodies of Sport for 2023 will be announced in the coming weeks.
Sport Ireland engages with sporting organisations on an ongoing basis and is continuing to support the sector in its recovery and development post-pandemic. Significant Government funding of over €162 million has been provided since 2020 to help sports organisations to recover and grow post-pandemic, support our grassroots networks of clubs and local sports partnerships, and ensure that people of all ages and abilities return to sport and physical activity.
The levels of active and social participation in sport have not yet returned to pre-Covid levels. In recognition of the ongoing challenges, funding of €15 million was again made available in December 2022 to support the sector.
As part of Budget 2023, €35 million was made available to help alleviate the impact of increased energy costs for sports clubs and organisations with a view to ensuring that everyone can continue to enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity over the winter months. The Sports Energy Support Scheme (SESS) is being run by Sport Ireland and the funding is being distributed in the main through the National Governing Bodies of Sport in like manner to the suite of Covid supports provided to the sports sector throughout the past two years. The Scheme will support sporting organisations with the rising energy costs associated with the provision of sport, for example around increased indoor activity and the provision of outdoor floodlighting, with a particular emphasis on sports clubs with dedicated facilities.
With regard to capital support, the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas. The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted. Following the conclusion of the appeals process, the final set of allocations were announced at the end of May last year. The total allocation of €166.6 million for the 2020 round represented the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. Details of all allocations can be found at www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/ .
