Written Answers Nos. 1-20
6. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total funding allocated to tourism agencies for the years 2019 to 2023; and of this, the total spend on tourism in counties Laois and Offaly, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24027/24]
View answerThe total funding allocated to the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, is as follows:
2019 - €173.9 million
2020 – €182.6 million
2021 – €219.1 million
2022 - €287.4 million
2023 - €228.2 million
It is important to note that neither my Department nor Fáilte Ireland allocate funding on a county-by-county basis. Development monies are instead informed by destination development priorities identified in Failte Ireland’s Destination and Experience Development Plans and guided by Regional Tourism Development Strategies. The needs in a particular county will depend on the level of destination maturity of the area, i.e. the number of tourism businesses, maturity of product base, access into the county and other visitor-facing infrastructure on the ground.
Notwithstanding this, Fáilte Ireland has invested in a range of projects and initiatives in Laois and Offaly, and in the wider region, in recent years, including:
• €66,500 via its Digital that Delivers programme;
• €900,000 through Destination Towns;
• €527,000 though Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Website Improvement Programme across the entire region including Offaly;
• €945,000 in the National Mountain Bike Trail Project in conjunction with Coillte;
• €2.3 million in the Shannon Tourism Masterplan across the region;
• €32,000 in Strategic and Regional Festival Funding, and
• €400,000 on the Beara Breifne Way, which passes though Offaly.
Both Laois and Offaly are included in the EU Just Transition region. €68 million has been allocated to Fáilte Ireland to implement a Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands. The focus of the scheme is to provide new employment opportunities for workers and communities that were heavily dependent on peat by diversifying the local economy, which will include new opportunities for tourism.
Offaly is included in Fáilte Ireland’s new Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023 – 2027, while Laois is including in Fáilte Ireland’s new Ireland’s Ancient East Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023 – 2027.
These strategies provide a roadmap for the tourism industry and all stakeholders involved in tourism in the respective regions and will help navigate the current challenges and steer a course towards a sustainable recovery and continued success. The plans set out a strategic approach to unlocking the commercial potential of both regions. They will ensure focus on tourism development is sustainable and regenerative and that the benefits accrue to local communities and to nature.
I will continue to advocate for and provide support to the tourism sector including in these two counties.
12. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will outline funding opportunities to support cultural development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24303/24]
View answerI am pleased to be able to say that this Government has done more than any other in our history to support culture, the arts, artists and creatives. The levels of funding we've provided, the breadth of our stakeholder consultations and our response to the needs of the sector demonstrate the Government's understanding of the contribution arts and culture make to enhancing all of our lives.
My Department’s Arts and Culture programme aims to promote and develop Ireland’s world class artistic and creative strengths at home and abroad, maximising their societal and economic value for the country. Since 2020,
• funding for the Culture programme in my Department has grown by over 90%
• funding for the Arts Council has grown by 68%
• funding for Screen Ireland has grown by 88%
• funding for Culture Ireland has grown 65%
• we have the new, highly innovative three year €105m Basic Income for the Arts Research Programme
• funding for National Cultural Institutions has increased by over 50%
• we are supporting the provision of new artist workspaces in Dublin City and elsewhere.
In the context of capital spending the National Planning Framework recognises cultural heritage infrastructure as an essential component for sustainable, attractive and liveable cities, towns, villages and rural area.
In this context, the National Cultural Institutions Capital Investment Programme is enhancing our cultural infrastructure.
There are also important funding schemes for other cultural regional infrastructure as well as continued increased investment in Screen Ireland. Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres used by the professional arts were initiated and funded by local authorities. This network receives ongoing support from the Arts Council with capital spending provided through my Department.
In addition, the all-of-government Creative Ireland Programme 2023-2027, led by my Department, seeks to enable each citizen to realise their full creative potential. In conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, over €37 million has been provided to local authorities from 2018 to 2023 to the 31 local authorities to empower and support community-led participation with €7.5 million allocated for 2024. In implementing their respective 5-year culture and creativity strategies, many local authorities have utilised their funding allocation to promote the expansion and appreciation of the arts in their local area.
14. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte 16856/24, an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar an obair athbhreithnithe atá déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta i ndáil leis na córais agus leis an gcur chuige atá i ngníomh ag an Údarás chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliantchuideachtaí agus i ndáil leis na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riar; an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar stádas na scéime píolótaí; cé mhéad cliantchuideachta atá ag glacadh páirte sa scéim; an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar na téarmaí tagartha don scéim; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [24276/24]
View answerTá sé ráite ag Údarás na Gaeltachta liom go bhfuil céimeanna ullmhúcháin a gcur in áit ag an Údarás chun an scéim phíolótach seo a thairiscint do suas le 10 gcliant faoi thús an Fhómhair 2024. Tuigtear dom go bhféadfaí cur leis an líon cliaint ach breis maoinithe a bheith curtha ar fáil chuige sin i mbliana. Tá cás maoinithe déanta ag an Údarás chuig mo Roinn ina leith. Tá an cás seo á bhreithniú ag oifigigh mo Roinne faoi láthair.
Tá obair ar siúl ag an Údarás faoi láthair le hábhar tacaíochta a chur ar fáil chomh maith le critéir agus córas mheasúnaithe a fhorbairt don scéim píolótach.
Díríonn ar scéim ar chomhoibriú le cliaint ar leith le fostaithe sa ghnó a aithint a bheadh sásta agus oilte feidhmiú mar Áisitheoirí Teanga ar feadh roinnt uaireanta an chloig gach seachtain. Beidh na háisitheoirí seo ag comhoibriú leis an Údarás le Plean Forbartha Gaeilge a fheidhmiú sa ghnó thar tréimhse trí bliana.
Beidh gá tacaíocht a chur ar fáil do na hAisitheoirí Teanga ina gcuid oibre sa réimse seo. Chuige seo tá an tÚdarás ag réiteach clár oiliúna a bheidh dírithe ar spriocanna an Phlean Forbartha Gaeilge a bhaint amach. Cuimseoidh sé seo réimse leathan gníomhaíochtaí bunaithe ar riachtanais an ghnó féin, riachtanais na bhfostaithe ar an láthair oibre, chomh maith lena riachtanais teanga sa mbaile nó sa phobal.
Molaim an tÚdarás as tabhairt faoin obair seo. Tá go leor infheistíochta curtha isteach ag an Stát chun fostaíocht a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do phobal na Gaeltachta agus sé tábhachta úsáid na teanga a neartú san áit oibre mar thaca ag an infheistíocht seo.
16. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of the exclusion of both comedy and musical theatre from funding opportunities by the Arts Council; if she will use her power under section 5 of the Arts Act 2003 to give direction to the council to comply with a policy that includes both art forms as varieties of theatre eligible for funding; and to provide the dates and times for any instances where she has discussed or corresponded on this matter with the Arts Council since her appointment in 2020. [24340/24]
View answerSection 2 of the Arts Act 2003 states that “Arts” means any creative or interpretative expression (whether traditional or contemporary) in whatever form, and includes, in particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, and includes any medium when used for those purposes.
This legislative definition indicates a recognition that arts expression is broad, fluid, constantly changing and evolving. Today artists and arts organisations are increasingly working across and between arts areas. The Arts Council operates under the Arts Act. To reflect and respond to evolving modern arts practitioners, the Arts Council has formed a new Multi-Disciplinary Arts team. This team manages grants that are not discipline-specific. Example of funding include the Touring of Work scheme and the Creative Production Support Scheme.
I understand that the Arts Council also has plans to research and develop a Multi-Disciplinary Arts Policy. Such a policy would set out how the Arts Council supports and enables multi-disciplinary practice in the future. The Council is currently seeking input by way of comments and suggestions from artists, arts practitioners and arts organisations working in these arts areas.
In recent months, the Arts Council published its new Music Policy and Strategy as well as an Implementation Plan which I believe will be launched later this year. Aligned to the development of policies, I understand that the Arts Council will be reviewing its ten-year strategy in preparation for its next strategy from 2026.
Much of the structures around the professional non-commercial arts are supported by the Arts Council and the local authorities. Annual support, including programming and revenue supports, is provided to arts centres by local authorities and the Arts Council. Cultural infrastructure owned by local authorities frequently receives capital funding from my Department.
Many festivals in receipt of funding from the Arts Council and my Department have programmes that include comedy, spoken word, musical theatre and other multi-disciplinary events and artists.
Against this background, respect for the arms length principle has been a central tenet of my time as Minister. Any proposal of the kind suggested by the Deputy would require careful consideration to take account of the widest range of views, to avoid unintended consequences and to ensure that it did not constitute, however unintentionally, an intrusion into an issue more appropriate to the Arts Council to determine.
17. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps that Monaghan County Council should take to secure funding for a swimming pool in Carrickmacross. [23860/24]
View answerMy Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Capital support for new swimming pools is currently being provided through the LSSIF. New swimming pool projects and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools are eligible to apply for grant funding subject to published guidelines and conditions of the scheme.
The first LSSIF allocations were announced in January 2020 and so far €124 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals including 8 swimming pool projects. Almost 25% of all approved LSSIF projects to date have a swimming pool element, representing one of the highest level of success for any sport.
Minister Martin and I recently announced funding of up to €120 million under the new round of the LSSIF which is open for applications until 3pm on Monday 1 July 2024. Assessment of applications, for funding of between €600,000 and €30 million, will take into account such factors as population size, sustainability and ensuring that similar access is provided to accommodate access by men and women to LSSIF-funded facilities.
While this new round of the programme is again aimed primarily at local authorities and National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs), it is also open to other bodies, such as sports clubs, voluntary organisations, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and third level institutions to apply but such applications must be submitted and prioritised by a local authority and/or an NGBs. All local authorities and NGBs are asked to engage constructively with any such requests from outside bodies to ensure all potential projects, which best achieve the Fund’s objectives, get due consideration.
An information guide on the new scheme is also available on my Department's website and department officials also recently held an information webinar for all NGBs and local authorities intending to apply to the new round.
I understand that no application was received under the first call for LSSIF proposals in 2019 for a new pool in Carrickmacross and I would encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process.
18. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way her Department is encouraging and supporting the establishment of arts centres in all parts of the country, to articulate Government policy in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24355/24]
View answerThere is a network of cultural infrastructure spread across the State with most in the ownership of local authorities. Annual current funding for operational costs and programming is provided to arts centres by local authorities and the Arts Council. Arts Centres are where artists and audiences meet and represents a key part of the Arts Council strategy to invest in public engagement.
My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist and maintain these arts and cultural facilities. Funding is administered through applications received for specific grant schemes. The main focus of my Department capital funding is towards securing and enhancing existing arts and culture facilities rather than the development of major new centres.
Proposals for the development of local arts centres are a matter in the first instance for the relevant local authority. County and city development plans are drawn up by local authorities in accordance with their functions under the Planning and Development Acts. Such plans are informed by the National Development Plan 2021-2030 and the National Planning Framework which recognises cultural heritage infrastructure.
There has been sustained investment in arts and culture in recent years. I was very pleased to secure almost €363m for the Culture & Arts Division of my Department in 2024. The Arts Council currently provides programming and revenue supports to a range of initiatives such as arts centres and residencies, required to sustain artists nationwide. Record funding of €134m annual funding for the Arts Council is being provided for 2024.
In recognition of their key role in supporting and funding the arts at local level, local authorities have long been key strategic partners of the Arts Council – evidenced by the a 10-year strategy between the Arts Council and the County and City Management Association (CCMA), which reflects on the value of the partnership to date. The Strategy - Making Great Art Work sets out a vision and broad goals to be progressed for the period 2016 to 2025. The Arts Council also provides funding to local authorities, supporting the programmes of Arts Offices in each local authority, as well funding a range of other initiatives, events and festivals carried out in partnership with local authorities and artists in every local authority area.
The location and spread of arts centres around the country is a testament to the ongoing partnership between my Department and local authorities.
19. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to maintain the enhanced level of financial support for an organisation (details supplied) following their successful delivery of the memorandum of understanding; if she will consider allocating additional funding for academies and underage international teams, inclusive of girls and boys; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24225/24]
View answerGovernment funding for the FAI - to which the question refers - is primarily aimed at supporting the delivery of programmes at local level.
Considerable additional financial support has been provided by the State for the development of football in Ireland, particularly through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government and the FAI. The MOU provided for a package of funding of €5.8 million per annum to the FAI for the 4-year period up to 2023 for football development.
My Department has very recently received proposals from the FAI regarding funding support beyond the period of the MOU and in relation to the development of academies. These are being examined by my officials in consultation with Sport Ireland and they will make recommendations to myself and Minister Catherine Martin in due course.
Investment in, and supports to, both grassroots clubs and national level clubs in the League of Ireland is important and our capital funding programmes are providing significant support on both fronts.
Under the 2020 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme alone over €25 million was provided to football clubs around the country.
Earlier this month Minister Martin and I announced a record amount of over €26 million in equipment grants under the latest round of the programme. These allocations are in response to equipment-only applications submitted by sporting organisations.
Allocations totalling over €4.376 million was allocated in equipment-only grants to 136 football applicants. These were primarily allocated directly to football clubs with three grants totalling over €830,000 also allocated to the FAI for regional and national projects.
20. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the work of the stakeholders’ forum, one of the recommendations of the recent report on section 481 produced by the Oireachtas Budget Scrutiny Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24300/24]
View answerA Section 481 stakeholder forum was held in February of this year and attended by representatives from all parts of the Irish audiovisual industry.
The structure of the event incorporated a small number of presentations on elements of Section 481 requirements. The majority of the focus of the day, however, was firmly input from the stakeholders themselves and on ensuring that everyone attending from the industry was given ample opportunity to voice their opinions and discuss them with other industry stakeholders. A professional rapporteur conducted the event. A Report of all the views expressed at the Section 481 stakeholder forum will be published shortly and it will seek to ensure that it reflects the wide range of views expressed.
I am informed that there was a range of issues that attending stakeholders felt could be changed, improved and calibrated. Views were expressed with a general sense of collaboration and respect for opposing views. Despite differing viewpoints there was general acknowledgement of the success being enjoyed by the Irish screen industry. This was also reflected also in those organisations attending representing increasing specialisations in the industry - the expansion of VFX, SFX and post-production, the ongoing growth the numbers in animation, the large number of high end TV drama set in Ireland that have been appearing on our screens of late. The positivity observed at the forum has since been reflected in successes at some of the major international Film Festivals. The film Kneecap premiered at Sundance and was screened at SXSW, Small Things Like These opened the Berlin Film Festival and five films were shown at the Cannes Film Festival with Irish producers or Irish creative talent involved..
This month, I attended a range of meetings at the Cannes Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious and competitive film festivals and an invaluable platform for filmmakers and artists to launch their films to the international market.
Since the forum took place last February, the European Commission approved an increase in the Section 481 Cap to €125m and its extension to the end of 2028. This will provide certainty to our screen industry and open it up to projects of scale. Given the ongoing upward pressure on production budgets, the increased cap will lead to a thriving film industry, cementing its reputation worldwide for high quality work and a creative, talented workforce.
