Holly Cairns
Question:677. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current number of registered short-term lets (details supplied), by local area, in tabular form. [1962/25]
View answerTourist Accommodation
Questions (677)
Written answers
The growth of the short term letting sector in recent years is a key aspect of the tourism ecosystem but it has brought with it certain challenges, in particular a lack of data on the short term letting market which impedes authorities’ ability to determine which properties are best placed for tourism and which are more appropriate to the longer term housing market.
The proposed Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for short term lets in Ireland which will facilitate the production of quality data on short term letting accommodation in each region in the country. However, until that point, it is not possible to provide accurate data on the quantum of such accommodation.
Fáilte Ireland has estimated that there are circa 32,000 short term letting properties currently advertised online as outlined below. This estimate is based on online data-scraping from the four largest online booking platforms operating in Ireland. It is important to note that the data cannot be regarded as definitive and that the short term letting register to be established under the proposed STLT Bill will ultimately help to address this information deficit.
|
County |
November 2024 |
|
Carlow |
210 |
|
Cavan |
320 |
|
Clare |
1,850 |
|
Cork |
3,010 |
|
Donegal |
2,980 |
|
Dublin |
6,680 |
|
Galway |
3,320 |
|
Kerry |
3,640 |
|
Kildare |
480 |
|
Kilkenny |
480 |
|
Laois |
240 |
|
Leitrim |
410 |
|
Limerick |
510 |
|
Longford |
120 |
|
Louth |
430 |
|
Mayo |
1,800 |
|
Meath |
610 |
|
Monaghan |
160 |
|
Offaly |
200 |
|
Roscommon |
310 |
|
Sligo |
660 |
|
Tipperary |
600 |
|
Waterford |
710 |
|
Westmeath |
300 |
|
Wexford |
1,150 |
|
Wicklow |
770 |
|
Total |
31,950 |
Departmental Funding
Questions (678)
Mark Wall
Question:678. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the grants available to a community group to assist with the cost of a yearly musical festival; the terms involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2123/25]
View answerWritten answers
I am very conscious of the contribution that festivals make to the artistic and cultural life of local communities and how these events make destinations attractive to domestic and international tourists. I recognise also the challenges involved in arranging festivals, often involving significant financial outlay and commitments and a great deal of voluntary activity. Accordingly, my Department and the relevant agencies under its aegis support the staging of festivals in a number of ways, which are outlined below.
My Department runs a Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme. This Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals 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/or Fáilte Ireland are not eligible. Funding available under this scheme is typically capped at €5,000.
Full details of the 2024 scheme are available for reference on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/89595-small-scale-local-festivals-and-summer-schools/
This scheme is subject to a competitive assessment process, and applications are marked on the following criteria:
• Extent to which the projects meet the objectives of the scheme
• Realistic in terms of scale, costs, assistance sought and timeframe for delivery
• Demonstrate capacity to deliver project
• Level of own or supporting contribution (non-state) towards the project
It is envisaged that The Festivals and Summer Schools 2025 scheme will be launched in Quarter 1 2025. Expressions of interest can be emailed to F&SS@tcagsm.gov.ie.
The Arts Council also provides financial support to a range of festivals, large and small, both single art form and multidisciplinary arts festivals. Strategic Funding supports organisations which are critical to the national arts infrastructure while the Festivals Investment Scheme is specifically designed to offer support to local/voluntary organisations to develop arts festivals.
Fáilte Ireland supports a diverse selection of larger festivals and events throughout the country as part of their Strategically Funded Festivals. The Regional Festival Scheme, which they also support, is available to local community festivals and is administered by the local authorities. Each local authority manages their own application and grant process.
Departmental Staff
Questions (679)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:679. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of civil servants in her Department, and in agencies under the aegis of her Department, who were on career break in 2023 or 2024, by month and grade, and by length of career break; the number of civil servants in her Department and in agencies under the aegis of her Department who were on career break for longer than five years or longer than six years in 2023 or 2024, by month, grade, and length of career break, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46200/24]
View answerWritten answers
The number of officers on Career Break in my Department in 2023 was 11 and in 2024 was 6. None of these career breaks exceeded 5 years. The tables below outline details of these career breaks, including by grade and by month.
|
Grade |
2023 - Number of Officers on Career Break by Month |
2024 - Number of Officers on Career Break by Month |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 officer (Jan-July 2023) |
n/a |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
1 officer (Jan-Dec 2023) |
1 officer (Jan-Dec 2024) |
|
Clerical Officer |
2 officers: (officer 1 Jan-Apr 2023) (officer 2 - Jan-Dec 2023) |
1 officer (Jan-Dec 2024) |
|
Executive Officer |
6 officers: (1 officer returned Jan 2023) (2 officers returned March 2023) (3 officers Jan-Dec 2023) |
4 officers: (Jan-Dec 2024) |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 officer: (Jan-Dec 2023) |
n/a |
|
Grand Total |
11 |
6 |
The total approved duration of the career breaks for officers is also set out in tabular form below.
|
Total Approved Duration of officers on Career Breaks in 2023 and 2024 by Grade |
1 Year |
3 Years |
3 Years 6 Months |
4 Years |
5 Years |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Executive Officer |
|
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
1 |
With regard to staffing in bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for those bodies and not something for which I have direct day-to-day responsibility.
Departmental Staff
Questions (680)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:680. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of vacancies, by month and by grade, in her Department, and in agencies under the aegis of her Department, in 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46218/24]
View answerWritten answers
The number of vacancies in my Department fluctuates on an ongoing basis. Vacancies arise across all grades due to staff promotions, staff availing of civil service mobility, career breaks, staff retirements and exits.
During 2023, 112 vacancies arose in my Department of which 109 were backfilled. The three vacancies at end of 2023 by grade are as follows:
|
Grade |
Number of Vacancies to be backfilled |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Total |
3 |
In 2024, 100 vacancies arose of which 73 vacancies were backfilled. The 27 remaining vacancies by grade are as follows:
|
Grade |
Number of Vacancies to be backfilled |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
4 |
|
Conservator |
1 |
|
Executive Officer |
16 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Service Officer |
1 |
|
Total |
27 |
A number of vacancies in 2024 arose following staff promotions from internal competitions to Higher Executive Officer and Assistant Principal held during October to December 2024.
The HR Unit in this Department are in the process of filling these vacancies through publicjobs.ie and Civil Service Mobility. A monthly breakdown of vacancies is not available.
With regard to vacancies in bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for those bodies and not something for which I have direct day-to-day responsibility.
Departmental Staff
Questions (681)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:681. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an assurance that no civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years where there is a suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency; that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency, they have been placed on a redeployment panel; that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond six years, consideration has been given to facilitating them on a supernumerary basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46236/24]
View answerWritten answers
I am assured that since the formation of this Department in 2020, no civil servant in this Department has had their career break extended beyond five years. All staff that wished to return from a career break were offered a suitable vacancy.
Career breaks in this Department are managed under the terms of Circular 04/2013 - Career Breaks in the Civil Service.
Departmental Staff
Questions (682)
Alan Kelly
Question:682. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of vacancies, by grade, currently within her Department; and the estimated timeframe for filling each of the vacancies, in tabular form. [46386/24]
View answerWritten answers
There are 17 vacancies in my Department, the majority have arisen following a number of recent internal promotions and staff turnover.
These vacancies will be filled as soon as possible through available recruitment methods for the Civil Service including publicjobs.ie and mobility.
|
Grade |
Number of Vacancies |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
3 |
|
Conservator |
1 |
|
Executive Officer |
10 |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Service Officer |
1 |
Tourism Promotion
Questions (683)
Paul Donnelly
Question:683. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if Tourism Ireland will run an advertisement campaign early in 2025 at the subway stations throughout New York. [46400/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of developing national tourism policy and the tourism agencies (Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland) deal with the implementation of this policy. Tourism Ireland is the agency responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a tourism destination.
The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Tourism Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
State Bodies
Questions (684)
Paul Donnelly
Question:684. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of WTE social media executives employed by Fáilte Ireland in the years of 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [46401/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Just Transition
Questions (685)
Robert Troy
Question:685. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an extension beyond 13 January will be applied to submissions for the Just Transition applications through Fáilte Ireland. [46450/24]
View answerWritten answers
The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I referred the question to the agency for direct response to the Deputy and I understand that a response issued earlier this month.
Sports Funding
Questions (686)
Michael Cahill
Question:686. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to give favourable consideration to a review of an appeal by a club (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46641/24]
View answerWritten answers
Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities, across Ireland.
The deadline for CSFF appeals was 29 October 2024 and I can confirm that the Department received an appeal from the organisation referred to by the Deputy. The process of reviewing the appeals is ongoing and all outstanding appeal decisions will be confirmed to the relevant organisations shortly.
Sports Facilities
Questions (687)
Michael Cahill
Question:687. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to give favourable consideration to an appeal by a club (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46642/24]
View answerWritten answers
An application from Ionad Pobail Lios Póil Cuideachta Faoi Theorainn Ráthaíochta was received in respect of the Community Sport Facilities Fund. The organisation was informed on 12 November 2024 that its appeal was successful.
Departmental Funding
Questions (688)
Thomas Gould
Question:688. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the grants that are available for arts collectives; and if officials in her Department could contact an organisation (details supplied) to support it to apply for same. [46651/24]
View answerWritten answers
The network of venues and arts centres established throughout the State receive ongoing annual funding from the Arts Council. Funding for the Arts Council has increased steadily since I became Minister and I was delighted to secure the record figure of €140 million for 2025.
My Department focuses on providing capital grants to arts and culture facilities. Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres used by the artistic communities and the professional arts were initiated and funded by local authorities. My Department provides grants as a contribution towards securing and enhancing existing arts and culture facilities rather than the development of major new centres.
At present, my Department has a capital funding scheme open for applications. Stream E of the Cultural Capital Scheme focuses on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country. In line with the Government's action plan on climate change, Stream E also welcomes projects that reduce an organisation's carbon footprint as well as projects that provide additional capacity for artistic production. Projects that address access and health and safety issues are also supported.
Stream E offers grants up to €50,000 to not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and culture remit. Grants of up to €20,000 are available at 85% grant funding rate except for Local Authority owned facilities where the maximum grant is 60% of eligible costs. Grants of up to €50,000 are provided at a maximum grant funding rate of 70% (60% for Local Authority owned facilities). Full details of this Scheme including Application Form, Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions are available on my Department’s page of the website at the following link gov - Creative Arts: Grants and Funding (www.gov.ie). Details of all cultural capital grant expenditure provided by my Department is available on the website showing the grantee and the annual amounts paid by county each year. This information is available at the following link gov - Creative Arts: Grants and Funding - Previous Schemes (www.gov.ie)
Irish Language
Questions (689)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:689. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the requirements for having State identification documents, for example, passport, public services card, driver's licence and so on, issued with names in Irish, should the applicant choose to use the language; if these requirements are discordant with State efforts to facilitate increased use of the language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46660/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy should note that my Department has no function in the issuing of such State identification documents, as noted in his question, and accordingly, details of any associated requirements should be sought directly from those relevant Government Departments and public bodies concerned.
However, it is worth noting in this context that I signed an order recently to commence the final provisions of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 on 21 December 2024. Among these was a specific provision around the correct recording and use by a public body of a person’s name, address or title (including the option to use no title) in the Irish language. This includes the use of the síneadh fada (accent) and ensuring ICT systems are configured appropriately to accept same. Public bodies will be prescribed as regards the implementation of these additional provisions in due course, commencing in the first half of 2025.
My Department is also scheduled to issue guidelines in relation to these new requirements before the end of March 2025.
The Department, through this work, aims to set a common framework with a view to harmonising the use of the Irish language as it applies to public services and public bodies.
Any further developments in this area will be publicised across the media and will be communicated in advance to the relevant public bodies.
State Bodies
Questions (690)
Alan Kelly
Question:690. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a list will be provided of all persons appointed to State or semi-State boards under her remit since 1 November 2024. [46937/24]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised that the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the below table and I would further advise the Deputy that all of these appointment decisions were made before 8th November 2024.
|
Non-Commercial State Board |
Member Name |
Position |
First Term |
Second Term |
End Term |
Appointment Type |
|
Arts Council |
Dr. Caroline Ann O'Sullivan |
Board Member |
06/11/2024 |
|
27/02/2027 |
PAS Appointment |
|
Arts Council |
Noyona Chundur |
Board Member |
26/11/2024 |
|
25/11/2029 |
PAS Appointment |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
Kieran Dowdall |
Board Member |
06/11/2024 |
|
05/11/2029 |
Staff Representative - Cultural Institutions Act 1997 Section 19 subsection 3(a) |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
Bernard Whelan |
Board Member |
06/11/2024 |
|
05/11/2029 |
PAS Appointment |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
Michael Quane |
Board Member |
01/01/2025 |
|
31/12/2027 |
RHA Nominee - National Gallery of Ireland Act 1854 Section XII |
|
Commercial State Board |
Member Name |
Position |
First Term |
Second Term |
End Term |
Appointment Type |
|
Radio Telefís Éireann/RTÉ |
Noreen O'Kelly |
Board Member |
20/03/2024 |
04/11/2024 |
03/11/2029 |
PAS Appointment - A Government Decision regarding reappointment was made on 08/10/2024, effective from 04 November 2024. |
|
Radio Telefís Éireann/RTÉ |
Shirley Bradshaw |
Board Member |
20/03/2024 |
04/11/2024 |
03/11/2029 |
Staff Representative - A Government Decision regarding reappointment was made on 08/10/2024, effective from 04 November 2024. |
Sports Funding
Questions (691, 692, 693)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:691. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the scoring criteria applied when allocating funding in the most recent tranche of the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund. [1044/25]
View answerPádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:692. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any projects received funding from the recent tranche of the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund which were not identified by the relevant local authority as the number one priority for their county. [1045/25]
View answerPádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:693. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason a centre (details supplied) was not allocated funding in the most recent tranche of the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund. [1046/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 691 to 693, inclusive, together.
In 2024, the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund ('LSSIF') received an unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million from 96 applications. As a result of this significant demand, a range of valid applications did not receive an LSSIF allocation at the initial allocation stage.
In relation to LSSIF applications which have not received an allocation, it should be noted that a reserve list is being prepared by the Department, on which all remaining valid applications will be assessed and placed in a prioritised order such as this project. As additional LSSIF funding becomes available, projects on the reserve list should then be able to be funded.
The Department's website (gov.ie - Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) 2024) details the projects allocated funding as well as the prioritisation accorded to projects by local authorities and National Governing Bodies of Sport and the scoring matrix applied by the Department.
In relation to the facility referred to, funding towards the design costs of the facility has been provisionally allocated by the Department to assist the project. This allocation has been made given the strategic importance of developing swimming pool infrastructure, in line with the recently published National Swimming Strategy.
Question No. 692 answered with Question No. 691.
Question No. 693 answered with Question No. 691.
Tourism Industry
Questions (694)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:694. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update with regard to the Books of Innisfallen potentially being relocated to Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1204/25]
View answerWritten answers
The item in question is legally the property of an institution overseas. Curatorial decisions for the venue concerned – including the exhibition of items on loan - are a matter for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Sports Funding
Questions (695)
Brian Brennan
Question:695. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media whether her Department provides any grant aid or funding to assist a sports club in acquisition of land; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1258/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). These programmes do not include funding for the acquisition of land.
Tourism Promotion
Questions (696)
Paul Donnelly
Question:696. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount that Failte Ireland spent on the most recent Winter in Dublin advertisement campaign. [1412/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.