Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Canney

530. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will review the music and entertainment business assistance scheme to create a lower turnover of €15,000 to €20,000 and remove the minimum cost to align with the small business assistance scheme for Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40206/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael McNamara

531. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when all swimming lessons will resume; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40257/21]

Departmental Meetings

Paul Donnelly

532. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the dates in 2020 and to date in 2021 she or her officials have met formally with persons (details supplied) in tabular form. [40330/21]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Neale Richmond

533. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the interaction she has had with RTÉ regarding its superannuation scheme; if she has engaged with pensioners that are experiencing issues with the broadcaster regarding their pension entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40338/21]

Tourism Industry

Brendan Griffin

534. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of overseas visitors to Ireland in 2020; the projected number of overseas visitors to Ireland in the entirety of 2021; the projected number of visitors for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40400/21]

Sports Events

Brendan Griffin

535. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the up to date position regarding a potential bid by Ireland and other nations to host the 2030 World Cup; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40401/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Griffin

536. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the allocations provided under the large-scale sports infrastructure fund will be topped-up to allow projects to be completed given the difficulties being faced by sporting organisations in providing match funding due to Covid-19 and the construction inflation that has occurred since the original allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40402/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

537. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports for Irish writers that have been provided since the beginning of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40403/21]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

538. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of revenue collected annually under the television licence fee; the cost of both collecting and enforcing television licensing; the breakdown for each; the percentage of households compliant with television licensing annually; the net amount the television licence produces per the total number of households in the State; if she is satisfied with this net amount; her views on whether a better system could be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40440/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Réada Cronin

539. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if summer and other camps for children will be added to the events sector for financial support in the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40464/21]

Departmental Funding

Jackie Cahill

540. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding that has been allocated by her Department for projects and initiatives in County Tipperary over the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40504/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Niamh Smyth

541. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider introducing a second live performance support scheme in 2021 given that some businesses were not aware that they were eligible to apply for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40539/21]

Tourism Industry

Mary Butler

542. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding the reopening of the Fáilte Ireland tourist office in Waterford; if her attention has been drawn to the fact the decision for the branch to remain closed is having a negative effect on local businesses, small tourism operators such as walking tour and heritage site guides; if she will investigate the possibility of reversing this decision and reopening the office in Waterford as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40570/21]

Arts Policy

Niamh Smyth

543. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the planning made for the introduction of a universal basic income for all artists; when it will commence; the persons in the art world that can avail of it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40571/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

544. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether there has been sufficient advertising of the music and entertainment business assistance scheme; and if she will consider any future advertising and awareness campaigns in advance of the final application deadline. [40598/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

545. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding the music and entertainment business assistance scheme; the number of applications have been made both successful and unsuccessful to date; if all successful grants have been drawn down; and if there is a timeline for payment of outstanding monies owed to applicants. [40609/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

546. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason business costs are included in the music and entertainment business assistance scheme when they are not a qualifying criterion for other Government grants including the small business assistance scheme for COVID; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40611/21]

Departmental Funding

Johnny Guirke

547. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the last occasion on which a Department-wide review of all funding within her Department took place; the frequency of such reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40644/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

548. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the timeline for the reopening of indoor summer camps; if indoor camps will be able to operate during August 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40650/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

549. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason minimum business costs are required of applicants for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme despite not being a requirement for the new event sector Covid support scheme, small business assistance scheme for Covid-19 or the business continuity schemes from Fáilte Ireland. [40701/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

550. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason a step-by-step online video guide or explanatory webinar was not provided to assist in explaining the music and entertainment business assistance scheme application form to potential applicants, in particular the more technical questions in the form. [40702/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

551. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the music and entertainment business assistance scheme includes a commitment to publishing the names of successful grantees, despite this not being a requirement in other schemes such as the event sector Covid support scheme which only states names may be published.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40703/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

552. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason grant payments for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme have not yet been issued, despite applications having opened over six weeks ago on 9 June 2021. [40704/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

553. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the wait time between applying and approval for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme is inconsistent; if her attention has been drawn to some applicants being approved within days of applying while others who had applied before them are left waiting for weeks for a decision; and the reason for the apparent random order in which applications are approved. [40705/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

554. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the process an application for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme goes through between the submission of the application to approval or refusal of the application; if applications are processed chronologically in the order in which they are submitted in a first-come-first-served manner; if there is a procedure by which it is decided to process certain applications as a priority over others previously submitted; and if so, the person charged with making such decisions. [40706/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

555. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of applications made by the original deadline of 7 July 2021, the first extended deadline of 21 July 2021 and in total to date for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme; and the number of applications her Department had anticipated or estimated when it announced the €14 million allocation for the scheme. [40707/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

556. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason her Department understands to be the cause of the music and entertainment business assistance scheme receiving such a low uptake; the additional measures that were undertaken to address these reasons and increase awareness and uptake when the deadline was extended to 21 July 2021 and then again to 3 August 2021; the reason the scheme was not modified in the interim to attract a higher number of applications or ease access to the scheme; and if her Department gave any consideration to modifying the scheme. [40708/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

557. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department is of the view that the unnecessary extra criteria not applicable to other Covid-19 supports for businesses, such as the minimum business costs and publishing of grantee names, that the application not being sufficiently simple or properly explained, or that a lack of awareness about the grant and the way it applies to the cohort it intends to assist, contributed to the low uptake of the music and entertainment business assistance scheme and caused the need to extend the deadline for applications. [40709/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

558. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the music and entertainment business assistance scheme was created under de minimis aid regulations as opposed to the European Union’s Temporary Framework for State Aid under which other schemes, including the small business assistance scheme for Covid-19, live performance support scheme and business continuity schemes under Fáilte Ireland, were created with the same rationale as MEBAS; and if this difference imply a difference in the degree to which the commitment to spend the allocated funding promised under the scheme must be adhered to or require the extra obstacles not involved in the temporary framework schemes, such as the minimum business costs and publishing of grantee names. [40710/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

559. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason a lower threshold for turnover, such as €15,000, was not used for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme, especially given the sector being known to have a below average income and some of the lowest paid workers in precarious employment without minimum wage conditions to rely on; and if she will consider lowering the turnover threshold. [40711/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

560. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to continue to extend and if a commitment will be given to extending the deadline for application to the music and entertainment business assistance scheme until such time as the allocated funding is delivered to those for whom it was intended. [40712/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

561. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she had made or will make representations to the Minister for Social Protection to alert the Department to the potential damage that the recategorisation of pandemic unemployment payment recipients in the music and entertainment sectors as jobseeker's payments and the cutting of their supports will have on the sector; if she was consulted on the proposed cuts and changes; and the measures she plans to take to mitigate this damage. [40716/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

562. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the potential for workers in the music and entertainment sector who receive a few days' work through the live performance support scheme being expected or required to give up their only guaranteed stable support of the pandemic unemployment payment, if the funds they receive through the live performance support scheme results in them earning more than the allowed €960 over an eight week period was factored into the design of the live performance support scheme; if she has raised this with the Minister for Social Protection; and the measures she plans to take to stop workers in the sector from being discouraged from taking up opportunities under the live performance support scheme as a result. [40718/21]

National Orchestras

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

563. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the heads of the proposed Bill to transfer ownership of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall have been agreed; when these will be published; and the timeframe in which the Bill is expected to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny and be brought forward to the Houses of the Oireachtas. [40722/21]

Departmental Communications

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

564. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a ministerial brief was produced to provide a high-level introduction to her Department and a selection of the issues that can be expected to require ministerial attention, providing information on an overview of the Department, agencies under the Department, issues and engagements, departmental priorities, sectoral issues and priorities and the structure, key roles and responsibilities of individuals in management within her Department, as was produced for other Departments following the formation of the Government in 2020; and if so, when such a brief will be published. [40723/21]

Coimisiún Logainmneacha

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

565. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén dáta a rinneadh an barántas faoinar bunaíodh an Coimisiún Logainmneacha a chúlghairm, an soláthróidh sí cóip den ordú cúlghairme seo, agus an bhfoilseoidh sí an t-ordú seo don phobal. [40724/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

566. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé mhéad a caitheadh ar dheontais do choláistí cónaithe agus do bhrúnna a bhaineann le coláistí samhraidh Gaeltachta gach bliain le cúig bliana anuas, agus go ndéanfaidh sí idirdhealú idir an maoiniú seo agus an maoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil do mhná agus d’fhir tí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge sa tréimhse chéanna. [40725/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

567. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén fo-theideal sna meastacháin faoina dtagann an maoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil le haghaidh scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta do dhaltaí i scoileanna DEIS, faoina dtagann an maoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil le haghaidh Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, faoina dtagann deontais a cuireadh ar fáil do mhná agus d’fhir tí, agus faoina dtagann deontais a cuireadh ar fáil do choláistí cónaithe agus do bhrúnna. [40726/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

568. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad é méid an chaiteachais a leithroinneadh chun ionaid pobail Gaeilge agus Cultúrlanna a bhunú agus a reáchtáil sa stát, cé mhéad ionad atá bunaithe agus atá le bunú, cé mhéad Cultúrlann atá bunaithe agus atá le bunú, agus an ndéanfaidh sí miondealú a ar an maoiniú atá tugtha do gach ionad nó Cultúrlann le cúig bliana anuas. [40727/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

569. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán miondealú a dhéanamh ar na nithe ar ar caitheadh an maoiniú €16,363 a fógraíodh le haghaidh comhoibriú thuaidh-theas sna meastacháin athbhreithnithe. [40728/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

570. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad é méid an chaiteachais a leithroinneadhle haghaidh líonraí gnó Gaeilge sa stát, agus an ndéanfaidh sí miondealú de réir líonra nó eagraíochta, lena n-áirítear Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Gael-Taca, Gnó Mhaigh Eo, agus Cill Dara le Gaeilge. [40729/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

571. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason for the decision to change to use of the term working age payment in the Pathways to Work 2021-2025 Strategy to describe that which had previously been described as a universal basic income pilot scheme for artists; the way this will affect other welfare payments; if this change means that the proposal plans to revive previous attempts to introduce a single working age payment as was put forward by former Ministers for Social Protection as part of austerity measures to replace other welfare supports and encourage the transition to work as described in the Pathways to Work document; and if the statement in the Pathways to Work Strategy that a person in employment will always receive more than they would if reliant on welfare alone under the proposal means that it is no longer intended for the basic income to involve providing the same unconditional payment regardless of means or income to artists, as had been previously suggested. [40731/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

572. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will address a series of matters in relation to Covid-19 supports for businesses (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40741/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

573. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will address a series of matters in relation to Covid-19 supports for businesses (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40742/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pearse Doherty

574. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to review the eligibility criteria relating to turnover for the events sector Covid support scheme; her views on whether the current eligibility criteria will exclude many small and medium-sized events companies from the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40748/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Catherine Connolly

575. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the expected timeline for the reopening of indoor sport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40884/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Rose Conway-Walsh

576. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a decision has been made as to when live music will be allowed to resume; if not, when a decision on the return of live music will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40919/21]

Sports Funding

Johnny Guirke

577. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of projects that applied for sports funding in County Meath; the name of each project; the projects which were successful; and the funding amounts provide to them in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [40949/21]

Sports Funding

Johnny Guirke

578. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of projects that applied for sports funding in County Westmeath; the name of each project; the projects which were successful; and the funding amounts provide to them in each of the years 2016 to 202 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [40950/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pa Daly

579. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if venues that received grants under the live performance support scheme 2021 will keep their allocated funding beyond 30 September 2021 if Covid-19 pandemic regulations mean that they cannot operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41060/21]