Written Answers Nos. 81-100
81. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an féidir léi plean a chur chun cinn chun foirgneamh saintógtha don óige a thógáil den chineál céanna leis an gceann atá beartaithe in Indreabhán, Co. na Gaillimhe [8595/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFaoi Chlár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga na Roinne cuirtear cúnamh caipitil ar fáil chun cabhrú le háiseanna pobail, teanga agus caitheamh aimsire a thógáil nó a uasghrádú fud fad na Gaeltachta.
Ina theannta sin ar ndóigh baineann Údarás na Gaeltachta leas as an gciste caipitil atá ag an eagraíocht chun tacú leis na réimsí atá faoina gcúram - gnóthaí óíge sa Ghaeltacht san áireamh. Dár ndóigh, is faoi fhochuideachta de chuid an Údaráis, Muintearas Teo., atá an fhreagracht seirbhísí óige a chur ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht.
Sa chomhthéacs sin, d’fhógair mé féin agus an tAire Martin an tseachtain seo go bhfuil allúntas €314,280 á chur fáil ag ár Roinn d’Údarás na Gaeltachta ar mhaithe le hiarratas ar chead pleanála a ullmhú agus a dhéanamh maidir le hIonad Oideachais agus Óige nua a thógfar in Indreabhán. Is ar mhaoin de chuid an Údaráis sa gCnoc, atá in úsáid ag Coláiste Lurgan agus grúpaí pobail, a thógfar an t-ionad.
Tá an togra seo ar cheann de na tograí pobail agus teanga is suntasaí a raibh baint ag an Roinn leis riamh. Níl aon amhras orm ach go rachaidh an tIonad seo chun tairbhe phobal Chois Fharraige chomh maith le foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge ar fud na tíre. Beidh an t-ionad nua-aimseartha seo ina acmhainn thábhachtach d’fhoghlaim na Gaeilge agus do chúrsaí oideachais agus oiliúna, lena n-áirítear cúrsaí oiliúna Gaeilge san earnáil phoiblí agus sa phobal. Déanfar freastal ann chomh maith ar ndóigh ar na healaíona, ar an gceardaíocht, an teicneolaíocht, cúrsaí spóirt agus go mór mhór ar an óige - ceann de na spriocghrúpaí is tábhachtaí ó thaobh thodhchaí na Gaeilge.
Mar is iondúil i gcásanna den chineál a mbeadh infheistíocht shuntasach i gceist - bíodh sin tograí á mbreithniú ag an Údaráis nó mo Roinn, bíonn gá le n-iad a scrúdú faoi réir na gcritéar agus na rialacháin mar a leagtar amach iad sa Chód um Chaiteachas Poiblí.
Ar bhonn ginearálta, is féidir leis an Teachta a bheith cinnte de go leanfaidh mo Roinn ag baint leas as an gciste atá ar fáil faoi Chlár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga na Roinne chun cur tuilleadh leis an mbonneagar áiseanna pobail, teanga agus caitheamh aimsire de réir mar a thagann cásanna cáilithe chun cinn.
82. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of artists in County Carlow who are in receipt of the basic income for the arts pilot scheme. [8409/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. 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. [8622/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 115 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 ways in which to help the arts sector recover post pandemic. I was very pleased to have been able to deliver on this recommendation.
Payments to recipients began at the end of October last. 2,000 recipients are now being paid €325 a week for three years.
The pilot will research, 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 payment which will inform future Government policy in relation to how Ireland supports her artists. The main research will be a longitudinal study with six monthly surveys. Survey data will be compared against a baseline survey which took place before payments began.
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.
16 recipients of the Basic Income payment stated on their application that they are from county Carlow.
21 recipients of the payment stated on their application that they are from county Cavan and 14 are from county Monaghan.
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.
83. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to support the hospitality sector, specifically with regard to tourism, in rural areas. [8583/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s rural towns and villages are central to Ireland’s tourism product. Apart from its overall economic importance, the importance of tourism to local and regional economies cannot be overstated. In many rural areas, it is the only employer of note outside of agriculture. Analysis published by Ernst and Young on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Irish Tourism shows a significant proportion of jobs dependent on tourism in rural counties such as Kerry (18%), Donegal (13%) and Waterford (12%). In many such areas, there are no alternative sources of employment. It is also the case that the sector employs a higher proportion of young people. Almost one in two of those employed in the sector are aged less than 35, compared to less than one in three of the total workforce. It is also the case that the sector employs a higher proportion of young people on a part-time and seasonal basis providing them with their first experience of employment and valuable income to support further education.
As we look to rebuild tourism we now have an opportunity to address sustainable development and management more meaningfully within the tourism ecosystem. Central to developing a more resilient and sustainable tourism sector will be an increased focus on the promotion and development of sustainable tourism with particular emphasis on rural areas. In this regard, my Department has initiated the development of a new national sustainable tourism policy that will seek to mainstream sustainability across the entire tourism ecosystem.
This policy commitment will seek to deliver on Ireland’s ambition to be amongst the world-leaders in sustainable tourism practices not only from an environmental perspective but also a social and economic perspective. 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 subsequent growth in the sector. Initial consultations with key stakeholders have taken place with a purpose of helping inform the policy direction prior to a more widespread public consultation scheduled in the coming weeks.
The recently confirmed EU Just Transition co-funding of €68 million is a significant step for regenerative tourism development in the Midlands. The focus of the EU Just Transition Fund is to diversify the local economy by providing new employment opportunities in tourism for workers and communities that were heavily dependent on peat production and peat-fired power generation, ensuring a just transition to a low-carbon future.
Fáilte Ireland is currently in the consultation phase of this project. They are working to finalise and operationalise the scheme and hope to be in a position to announce more details in the coming months.
Regional development and the promotion of areas all over the country as great places to visit are at the heart of Fáilte Ireland’s remit. Fáilte Ireland created the four regional brands of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Dublin and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands as a way to bring to life the richness and diversity of experiences available to visitors across the country.
To guide medium to longer term development, I understand that Fáilte Ireland aims to deliver four new Regional Tourism Strategies in 2023 which will set out a 10-year vision and 5-year action plan for each region.
At the more local level, these four Regional Tourism Strategies will be activated through a series of coordinated local Destination and Experience Development Plans (DEDPs), developed by Fáilte Ireland in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.
Fáilte Ireland’s focus on promoting the regions has included significant investment into brand building through individual ‘Keep Discovering’ campaigns for the each of the four regional experience brands, as well as media publicity, digital channels, and online sales platforms. All four regional brands are being promoted across a mix of TV, press, radio, digital and social and there is a new press campaign also showcasing the regions.
In addition, through its ‘Keep Discovering’ campaign, Fáilte Ireland promotes individual destinations from Donegal to Wexford and Cork to Louth. Many of these destinations have been featured on their new Weather broadcast sponsorship, as well as in the national press. Fáilte Ireland has been building partnerships with the local authorities, Waterways Ireland, Coillte, Bord na Mona and the Office of Public Works, in order to optimise the tourism potential of their natural and heritage assets in a sustainable manner. Recent highlights include the launch of the Shannon Tourism Masterplan, which has already seen €2.3 million invested by Fáilte Ireland in new projects last year alone, and €3.9 million invested in the revamped National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park.
This Government's commitment to supporting the tourism and hospitality sector over the past few years of Covid pandemic and the current economic challenges is clear and consistent. Today's decision to extend the lower 9% VAT rate for the sector until 1 September is further evidence of this support. However, industry must continue to play its part in ensuring that Ireland maintains its reputation as a value for money destination in the face of these challenges to ensure that visitors continue to be attracted to Ireland.
85. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department will consider a boycott of the 2024 Paris Olympics in the event that Russian and Belarussian athletes are allowed to compete as representatives of their respective countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8405/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 10 February 2023, I participated in a video call with representatives from 24 other countries from across Europe, North America and Asia, organised by the UK Government, to discuss the issue of Russian and Belarussian athletes in international sport competitions. This call was specifically arranged in response to the International Olympic Committee's statement of 25 January 2023 in which the IOC suggested that the time had come to explore a pathway for athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international competition.
There was a broad and welcome level of consensus at the recent Ministerial meeting that nothing had changed to warrant a departure from the stance previously indicated in two joint Ministerial statements issued on 8 March and 4 July last year. Ireland signed up to both of those joint statements, which essentially call for the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from international sport whilst the war in Ukraine is ongoing.
Ireland fully subscribes to the position that there should not be any Russian or Belarussian involvement in the Paris Games next year, if there is no change in relation to the war in Ukraine. T o that end, on foot of the discussions at the 10 February meeting, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Ireland has signed up to a third joint statement that clearly sets out our position in relation to the return of Russia and Belarus to international sport. I am arranging to forward a copy of this statement directly to the Deputy.
Given the foregoing circumstances, I do not consider that the issue raised by the Deputy arises. The Paris Games are still some 18 months away and there is no certainty as to what position will prevail in Ukraine or elsewhere as we get closer to the start of the Olympic Games in late July next year.
87. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil i gceist aici Ciste Caipitil agus Bonneagair a bheidh dírithe go sonrach ar na Gaeltachtaí a chur ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [8514/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraBaintear leas ar bhonn leanúnach as cláir caipitil faoi leith de chuid mo Roinne agus Údarás na Gaeltachta faoi seach atá ann cheana féin chun cabhrú le bonneagar pobail, teanga, caitheamh aimsire agus fiontraíochta a fhorbairt fud fad na Gaeltachta.
Is faoi réir na mbearta ábhartha atá leagtha amach sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta don Ghaeilge agus i straitéis cúig bliana an Údaráis a ndéantar é sin. Tugann Ráiteas Dheiridh Bliana 2022 an Údaráis léiriú súntastach agus sonrach ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta sna réimsí a thiteann faoina gcúram in ainneoin an Bhreatimeachta, COVID-19 agus cogadh ar mhór roinn na hEorpa le bliain anuas.
Tá cistíocht shuntasach chaipitil de bheagnach €15m curtha ar fáil ag mo Roinn d’Údarás na Gaeltachta don bhliain reatha atá á chur chun fónaimh acu i rith an ama chun clár oibre na heagraíoctha a fheidhmiú. Cuimsítear sa chlár sin an infheistíocht a ndéantar sa bhonneagar fiontraíochta agus pobalbhunaithe atá faoina gcúram.
Comhthreomhar leis an gciste sin, baineann mo Roinn fhéin leas as an gciste de €3.2m atá ar fáil faoi Chlár Tacaíochtaí agus Pobail na Roinne chun bonneagar pobail, teanga agus caitheamh aimsire a fhorbairt tuilleadh ar leas phobal na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge.
Leis an gcistíocht shuntasach seo trí chéile, atá á h-árdú go céimiúil le tamall de bhlianta anuas, táim sásta mar Aire Stáit don Ghaeltacht go bhfuil cúram mar is cuí á dhéanamh den chuid sin de bhonneagar na Gaeltachta atá ábhartha do mo Roinn agus d'Údarás na Gaeltachta araon.
Ar ndóigh, is fiú a nótáil go bhfuil ról lárnach ag Ranna agus forais eile stáit as gnéithe eile de bhonneagar na Gaeltachta. I measc na Ranna agus na bhforas sin, luafainn, mar shampla, an Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta, an Roinn Iompair, an Roinn Talamhaíochta, Bia agus Mara, gan dearmad go deimhin ar na húdaráis ábhartha áitiúla.
88. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the extension of the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8569/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra107. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the engagement she has had with the Minister for Finance regarding the need to extend the 9% tourism VAT rate beyond February 2023; the engagement she has had with industry representatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8589/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 107 together.
I have previously made clear my views that the lower 9% rate of VAT needed to be extended for the tourism and hospitality sector. This Government's commitment to supporting the tourism and hospitality sector over the past few years during the Covid pandemic, and the current economic challenges, is clear and consistent and today's decision to extend the lower 9% VAT rate for the sector until 1 September is further evidence of this support.
I am acutely conscious of the challenges the sector is facing including cost inflation as well as economic uncertainty in key tourism markets. I am also aware that our necessary humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine has impacted on the availability of tourism accommodation.
Today's decision to extend the lower VAT rate recognises that the headwinds facing tourism are very strong at the moment due to a range of factors such as reduced international and domestic demand, primarily due to the cost of living crises at home and overseas, and increased costs of business due to rising interest rates and increased energy costs and other inputs.
However, industry must continue to play its part in ensuring that Ireland maintains its reputation as a value for money destination in the face of these challenges to ensure that visitors continue to be attracted to Ireland and indeed to return again and again.
89. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps her Department is taking to promote eco-tourism, particularly in coastal areas. [8433/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra108. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps her Department is taking to promote eco-tourism across the country. [8397/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 108 together.
I refer the Deputy to Question No. 41 of 26 January last, when the matter of eco-tourism was addressed.
Ecotourism is defined by the World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, as all nature-based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas. It minimises negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment and supports the maintenance of natural areas.
As we continue the rebuild phase in the tourism sector following the Covid-19 pandemic we have an opportunity to address sustainable development and management more meaningfully within the tourism ecosystem. Central to developing a more resilient and sustainable tourism sector will be an increased focus on the promotion and development of sustainable tourism practices such as ecotourism. In this regard, my Department has initiated the development of a new national sustainable tourism policy that will seek to mainstream sustainability across the entire ecosystem.
This policy commitment will seek to deliver on Ireland’s ambition to be amongst the world-leaders in sustainable tourism practices not only from an environmental perspective but also a social and economic perspective. 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 subsequent growth in the sector. Initial consultations with key stakeholders have taken place with a purpose of helping inform the policy direction prior to a more widespread public consultation scheduled in the coming weeks.
With regards to promotional plans relating to environmentally sustainable tourism or eco-tourism in specific areas of the country, this is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question 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.
90. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén líon teaghlach, agus cén líon daoine, i bhfoirm tábla, i ngach contae, atá ag glacadh páirt sa scéim Teanga Tí; cén caiteachas atá bainteach leis an scéim; conas a chuirtear daoine ar an eolas faoin scéim; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [8597/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs rannóg de chuid Ghlór na nGael é Teanga Tí a fheidhmíonn le labhairt na Gaeilge a spreagadh mar theanga tí agus chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do na teaghlaigh sin atá ag tógáil clainne le Gaeilge.
Is é bunú líonraí an cur chuige is mó a mbaintear úsáid as chun an sprioc seo a bhaint amach, ag baint an leas is fearr as acmhainní teoranta chun an toradh is mó a bhaint amach, ag cruthú pobal de na teaghlaigh labhartha Gaeilge agus ag tabhairt deis do na rannpháirtithe tacaíocht a thabhairt dá chéile. Cruthaítear na líonraí trí imeachtaí a eagrú chun deis a thabhart do na teaghlaigh aithne a chur ar a chéile.
Tugann foireann Theanga Tí tacaíocht do ghrúpaí áitiúla. Bíonn tiomantas áitiúil ó na daoine a bhfuil Glór na nGael ag obair leo ríthábhacht do rath Theanga Tí. Cé go bhfuil an tábla thíos leagtha amach ar bhonn contae, is ar bhonn traschontae a bhíonn rannpháirteachas sna líonraí gníomhacha.
Mar gheall ar RGCS (GDPR) ní choinníonn Glór na nGael mionsonraí ar líon na ndaoine sna teaghlaigh.
Líon na dTeaghlach a bhí gníomhach i líonraí Teanga Tí de chuid Ghlór na nGael in 2022:
92. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will report on the work of the National Swimming Strategy Working Group; the number of times that the group has met since its establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8582/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra105. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she expects analysis of the public consultation responses to the National Swimming Strategy to be concluded and the Strategy finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8581/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 105 together.
Both the National Sports Policy 2018 -2027 and the Sports Action Plan 2021-2023 commit to the development and implementation of a National Swimming Strategy. The Strategy will be the first of its kind in Ireland and will be based on a vision to ‘provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim’. It will be suited to all ages and abilities and seek to recognise swimming as a life skill with lifelong participation potential.
The working group tasked with the detailed work of preparing the strategy is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives from relevant National Governing Bodies for sport and stakeholders, specifically Swim Ireland, Sport Ireland, CARA, Ireland Active and the Local Authorities. The Group has met on six occasions to date and a further meeting is scheduled for next month.
The Public Consultation process for the Strategy ran from the 9 September to 7 October 2022. Members of the public were invited to take part in the consultation by completing a short questionnaire online and submissions could also be submitted to a dedicated email account. An extensive consultation across relevant stakeholders operated in parallel with this process. Work on the analysis of the very large number of responses received is now substantially complete and details on the consultation process and the feedback received will form part of the overall Strategy document.
Whilst it is difficult to be precise about the exact timeframe for the delivery of the Strategy, I hope to be in a position to publish the Strategy by the middle of 2023.
93. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil aon ról aici maidir le hobair an ghrúpa trasRialtais maidir le lipéadú earraí bia in Éirinn sa todhchaí i dtaobh cén teangacha oifigiúla a bheidh riachtanach ar lipéid de réir na rialacha nua ón gCoimisiún Eorpach; ar ardaigh sí ceist an dátheangachais leis an ngrúpa sin de réir mar atá á lorg ag feachtas pobail le déanaí toisc gurb ise atá freagrach as cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sa Stát; agus an dtabharfaidh sí ráiteas maidir leis an bhfeachtas chun a shocrú go mbeidh an Ghaeilge ina teanga oifigiúil riachtanach i gcás pacáistiú agus lipéadú ar tháirgí. [8400/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá an dlí a bhaineann le lipéadú bia faoi chúram na Roinne Sláinte agus Údarás Sábháilteachta Bia na hÉireann. Tuigim gur bunaíodh grúpa oibre trasrialtais in 2022, faoi scáth na Roinne Sláinte, agus é mar aidhm ag an ngrúpa plé a dhéanamh ar Rialachán an Aontais Eorpaigh maidir le faisnéis bhia a sholáthar do thomhaltóirí. Níl aon ról agamsa ná ag mo Roinn leis na rialacháin sin ná obair an ghrúpa.
Mar sin féin, i gcomhthéacs Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, (Leasú) 2021, agus aidhmeanna an Achta, tá sé i gceist agam scríobh chuig an ngrúpa sin leis an gceist a bhaineann le lipeadú dátheangach a phlé.
Tá roinnt plé déanta ag mo Roinn le lucht eagair feachtais atá ar bun leis an lipéadú dátheangach ar phacáistí a chur chun cinn agus táthar ag féachaint ar an ábhar i gcomhar leis an obair a dhéanann Foras na Gaeilge agus eagraíochtaí eile chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa réimse ghnó.
95. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will outline the criteria for funding arts festivals. [8607/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department runs a Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme annually. The scheme is reserved for appropriate not-for-profit festivals, summer schools and other such similar events. Projects funded under the scheme enhance access to the arts, culture and film sectors recognising the social and economic role of these sectors in Ireland. Funding available under this scheme is typically capped at €5,000.
Projects funded under this scheme make a very important contribution to the development and promotion of Ireland's cultural tourism offering, to the benefit of both the domestic and foreign tourist and represent an important component of the delivery of the cultural tourism commitments in the Programme for Government.
The Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other central Government monies and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies. Events which are funded by the Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland are not eligible.
Only one application per body for one event or project will be considered. Applicants are not permitted to seek funding from any other scheme administered by the Cultural Schemes Unit for the same project. If the same project seeks funding for more than one scheme, one or both applications may be rejected. Organisations or events in receipt of core operational funding (i.e. direct funding from the Culture division) from my Department are not eligible for funding under this scheme.
Applications are marked on the following criteria -1) the extent to which the projects meet the objectives of the scheme 2) how realistic the proposal is in terms of scale, costs, assistance sought and timeframe for delivery, 3) the demonstrated capacity to deliver project and 4) the level of own or supporting contribution (non-state) towards the project.
The Arts Council also provides financial support to a number of single art form festivals (e.g. theatre, dance, film) and such festivals are supported within the policy context of those art forms. The Arts Council also supports many multidisciplinary arts festivals, meaning those festivals that programme across different art forms, including literature, music, street arts, theatre, visual arts and different areas of arts practice. Their Festivals Investment Scheme, for example, is specifically designed to offer support to local/voluntary organisations to develop arts festivals.
Fáilte Ireland supports local authorities in the development of tourism in their area including funding for capital investment, festivals and events.
96. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 26 January 2023, the status of the legacy framework arising from Galway 2020; when the framework will be published; if she will provide a detailed breakdown of how the remaining €1 million from her Department’s contribution to Galway 2020 will be spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8510/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra98. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will clarify the process whereby artists and artistic and cultural groups in Galway city and county can access funding under the remaining €1 million from her Department’s contribution to Galway 2020 under the legacy programme; the amount of the remaining €1 million that will be allocated specifically to projects by artists and artistic and cultural groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8511/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 98 together.
As set out in my reply of 26 January to the Deputy, on 1st December last, I approved the allocation of the remaining €1 million from my Department’s commitment to Galway European Capital of Culture to support the delivery of the programme under the proposed legacy framework. The legacy framework will be published on the website of Galway Culture Company, the successor trading entity to the Galway 2020 Company, during the month of March.
As also set out, the website of Galway Culture Company, which is fully bilingual, sets out the key high level programme aims and actions under the legacy framework. The €1 million funding from my Department will be broken down to support the delivery of these programme aims as follows:
- €300,000 to facilitate EU and international relationships and funding;
- €500,000 to develop and support place based cultural programming;
- €200,000 to provide supports to the cultural and creative sector.
Under the framework, the artistic and cultural sector will access the funding through a series of open calls, partnerships on funding applications to relevant EU programmes, opportunities for presentation in other European countries and targeted capacity building supports. All opportunities will be published on the website of Galway Culture Company as they arise throughout the year. In this way, the €1 million funding from my Department will be targeted in full to projects and initiatives to support the artistic and cultural sector in the Galway region.
97. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department supports the exclusion of Russian and Belarussian athletes from the 2024 Paris Olympics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8598/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 10 February 2023, I participated in a video call with representatives from 24 other countries from across Europe, North America and Asia, organised by the UK Government, to discuss the issue of Russian and Belarussian athletes in international sport competitions. This call was specifically arranged in response to the International Olympic Committee’s statement of 25 January 2023, where the IOC suggested that the time had come to explore a pathway for athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international competition.
There was a broad and welcome level of consensus at the recent Ministerial meeting that nothing had changed to warrant a departure from the stance previously indicated in two joint Ministerial statements issued on 8 March and 4 July last year. Ireland signed up to both of those joint statements, which essentially call for the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from international sport whilst the war in Ukraine is ongoing.
Ireland fully subscribes to the position that there should not be any Russian or Belarussian involvement in the Paris Games next year, if there is no change in relation to the war in Ukraine. To that end, on foot of the discussions at the 10 February meeting, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Ireland has signed up to a third joint statement that clearly sets out our position in relation to the return of Russia and Belarus to international sport. I am arranging to forward a copy of this statement directly to the Deputy.
99. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has developed initiatives to support more opportunities for older people to develop cultural activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8395/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and the public bodies under its aegis provide wide-ranging support for older people to develop cultural activities.
The all-of government Creative Ireland Programme led by my Department seeks to enable each citizen to realise their full creative potential. Through the Programme, one of my responses to the pandemic was to initiate a Creativity in Older Age scheme. Between 2020 and 2022, I have provided over €2.9 million through that scheme to support positive ageing through engagement with creative initiatives. This has seen for example delivery of approximately 1,300 concerts directly into residential care settings nationwide since 2020.
Through the Programme’s Creative Communities pillar, local authorities have been instrumental in developing partnerships to target further support for older people to develop cultural activities. From radio, podcasting, lace-making, cultural companionship, and dance, the work to support our older communities continues.
The National Cultural Institutions also encourage greater participation of older people in a variety of cultural activities, within the institutions themselves and in community settings. These range from activities of general interest to older adults (such as the National Concert Hall’s Blow the Dust Orchestra for older and returning musicians, or tours for senior groups) to more specialist programmes targeting a particular cohort of older people such as those living with dementia (for example, dementia-friendly concerts and tours).
Age and Opportunity funded by the Arts Council is the leading national development organisation working with a budget of €237,000 to enable the best possible quality of life for us all as we age. They also coordinate the Bealtaine Festival and several of our National Cultural Institutions are active participants. Arts Council cross-artform supports include bursaries, travel and training awards as well as specific schemes such as the Artist in the Community scheme managed by Create, with a budget of €375,000. Other Arts Council funding is aimed at the co-ordination of high-quality arts programmes directly targeting older people as participants and audiences.
This multi-faceted approach to providing cultural opportunities for older people is important and through Creative Ireland, my Department has commissioned specific research on this topic by The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin since 2020. I know from that research that older adults who participate in creative activities enjoyed a higher quality of life and were less likely to be lonely, depressed and stressed than their contemporaries who did not. Developing the evidence base will be important as my Department considers policies and initiatives in relation to older people into the future.
100. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an gcuirfidh sí tacaíocht bhreise ar fáil do hallaí pobail na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [8599/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFaoi Chlár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga na Roinne cuirtear cúnamh caipitil ar fáil chun cabhrú le háiseanna pobail, teanga agus caitheamh aimsire ar nós hallaí pobail a thógáil nó a athchóiriú. Tá ciste ar fiú €3.2m ar fáil faoin gclár seo i mbliana.
D'fhógair mé le gairid deontas ar fiú os cionn €300,000 d'Údarás na Gaeltachta chun a chur ar chumas na heagraíochta cead pleanála a lorg le haghaidh Ionad Oideachais & Óige a thógáil in Indreabhán, Co. na Gaillimhe. Beidh an togra seo mar áis luachmhar do phobal Chois Fharraige, chomh maith le bheith in úsáid ag Coláiste Lurgan i rith an tsamhraidh.
Is i gcomhar leis an Údarás atá an togra á fhorbairt agus é mar an chéad cheann de phunann beag tograí caipitil eile a bhfuil sé i gceist ag mo Roinn agus an tÚdarás a bhrú chun cinn sa réimse turasóireacht chultúrtha.
In éindí le bheith ag maoiniú tograí móra, leanfaidh mo Roinn ag baint leas as an gClár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga chun tacú le coistí deonacha chun áiseanna ar nós hallaí pobail a uasghrádú nó a thógáil.
Ní gá dom a rá mar sin go mbíonn an Roinn ag fáiltiú roimh iarratais faoin gclár i rith an ama agus déantar gach ceann a mheas faoi réir na gcritéar a bhaineann leis an gclár.
