Written Answers Nos. 266-280
266. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the means by which she will ensure that children with special educational needs receive timely assessments and adequate support in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14924/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
The assessment of needs process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005 and is a process under the remit of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Matters in relation to the assessment of needs should be directed to the HSE or to the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality.
In 2025 over €2.9 billion will be spent supporting children with special educational needs. This figure builds on previous years and represents over a quarter of the education budget. It will provide for, amongst other things, 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places. It will also increase our special educational posts by 768 special education teacher and 1,600 special needs assistant (SNA) posts nationwide.
By the end of the year there will be over 20,800 special educational teachers and 23,400 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have over 44,200 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. Children do not require a diagnosis to access these supports in mainstream classes.
In addition to these resources, there are a number of initiatives recently introduced to ensure that no matter where a child is enrolled they have access to the required supports to enable them to achieve their educational goals. An example of this is the Educational Therapy Support Service (ETSS) which sees 39 occupational and speech and language therapy posts embedded within the NCSE. The service is designed to build the capacity of teachers (and other school personnel as relevant) to provide as effectively as possible for the needs of all students.
While the provision of clinical therapy supports to children is the responsibility of the HSE, my department is working with the Department of Health, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE to develop and strengthen more coherent structures to enable children and young people to access therapeutic supports across both health and education. As a result of this engagement the enhanced in-school therapy supports pilot commenced in September 2024 delivering in school supports to sixteen special schools via the HSE’s Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) and supported by the NCSE. The purpose of the programme is to provide the effective delivery of in-school therapy supports to children and supplement existing services being provided through CDNTs.
My department and the NCSE will continue to support schools to ensure all children with special educational needs receive a befitting education, one where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
267. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the steps she will take to address the shortage of special needs assistants and ensure that they receive appropriate training and support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14925/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
In 2025 over €2.9 billion will be spent supporting children with special educational needs. This figure builds on previous years and represents over a quarter of the education budget. It will provide for, amongst other things, 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places. It will also increase our special educational posts by 768 special education teacher and 1,600 special needs assistant (SNA) posts nationwide.
By the end of the year there will be over 20,800 special educational teachers and 23,400 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have over 44,200 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
Allocations of special education teaching posts for the next school year have recently been provided to schools and SNA allocations will be confirmed by the NCSE to schools in quarter two this year.
SNAs play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools. They help ensure that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
SNAs are allocated to schools as a school-based resource. Principals/board of managements deploy SNAs within schools to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated. This provides flexibility for schools in how the SNA support is utilised.
If a school believes it has insufficient SNA support to meet the needs of its students an application can be submitted to the NCSE requesting a review of its allocation. Detailed information on the NCSE's SNA review process is published on the NCSE's website. Each case is individually assessed and is based on the student profile of each school.
The NCSE will continue this year to prioritise the full allocation of the additional 1,600 SNAs to schools, including to support up to 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places for this September.
Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) make a valuable contribution to our school communities through the provision of adult support to enable students with significant care needs attend school. My Department has established an SNA Workforce Development Unit to ensure that sufficient time and attention is given to examination of the SNA role and any reform or development required. Work is currently progressing in consultation with stakeholders on the first Special Needs Assistants Workforce Development Plan with a scheduled completion date of September 2025. The plan will include actions across five pillars including Pillar 2 Establishment of a SNA Learning and Development Programme and Pillar 3 Supporting SNA Recruitment, Retention and Diversity.
Separately, following a recent procurement process for the continued provision of the SNA National Training Programme a contract has been awarded to the successful tenderer, Atlantic Technological University (ATU). The course will be jointly offered between the School of Education and the School of Nursing, Health Sciences and Disability Studies at ATU St Angela’s College in Sligo.
Approximately 2,962 SNAs have completed the course to date, with 881 SNAs currently completing the course for the 2024/2025 academic year. Feedback from students who have completed the course has been overwhelmingly positive. My department fully covers the course fees for SNAs currently employed in recognised schools (primary, post-primary and special).
My department and the NCSE remain committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
268. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the means by which she plans to promote inclusive education for students with disabilities, particularly in mainstream schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14926/25]
View answerOn 16 January 2024, The National Council for Special Education published its policy advice paper on special schools and classes entitled “An Inclusive education for an Inclusive society”. This follows a request in October 2018, by the then Minister for Education and Skills to advise on the educational provision for students in special schools and classes and to make recommendations on the future provision required to enable them to achieve better outcomes.
The NCSE policy advice sought to consider how existing good practices could be incorporated and further developed in the design of an inclusive education system where children have the opportunity to learn in their local school with their siblings and peers.
The policy paper recommends progressive realisation of an inclusive education system for Ireland. It is envisaged that this system will be informed by, and aligned to, the relevant articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which Ireland ratified in 2018.
The advice recommends a phased transition with incremental changes taking place over many years with special schools and classes remaining an important placement option for students and parents. The advice recommends that the Department of Education and the NCSE should seek the evolution of an education system that is configured specifically for the Irish context. This emerging system should have regard to existing good practices in the education system and the boosting of current resourcing with significant increases in psychological and therapeutic supports.
The advice is informed by extensive research, consultation and an examination of similar international education systems. Pathways to post school life options for students with special education needs were also analysed.
There is a strong base from which to develop an inclusive education system in Ireland with investment in special education amounting to €2.9 billion in 2025, his figure builds on previous years and represents over a quarter of the education budget. While the amount expended each year is a budgetary issue, the adoption of a more inclusive education system doesn’t mean there needs to be significant additional spending. We have 20,000 teachers working in specialist settings at the moment. We’ve a similar number of SNAs. The challenge is to ensure that model of inclusion it develops for our system is one which builds on existing good practice and existing resources.
Further research, engagement with stakeholders and other government departments and agencies, piloting, trialling, and evaluation will comprise key components of the department’s response to the policy advice over the coming years.
However, it is important to note that several actions being undertaken or planned for the near future by the department address aspects of the NCSE recommendations. Many of these actions are at an early stage of development and will take considerable time to deliver. However, cumulatively, they address the identified need for the adoption of a more inclusive education system and could be viewed as key enablers of such a system.
Following on from an application from the Department of Education, The European Commission’s DG Reform Office has sanctioned support under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI). TSI is an EU programme that provides tailor-made technical expertise to EU member states to design and implement reforms. This consultancy support will assist in shaping the Department’s response to the policy advice. This is very welcome and should provide us with the necessary expertise to develop the model of inclusion which will work best for our system.
With regards to the physical environment, when a school establishes a special class and the school does not have accommodation for that class the school can apply for capital funding under the department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
The required accommodation can be provided by means of reconfiguration of existing accommodation, the provision of modular accommodation, or a traditional construction building project. Schools are provided with appropriate classrooms and with ancillary facilities appropriate to the needs of the school and the available space. These facilities typically include a quiet space associated with each classroom, a multi-activity room, a central activity space, and external soft play area.
Furthermore, the following funding is available to schools for fit out of classrooms:
• Special class start-up grant: A grant is available to cover the cost of equipment.
• Furniture: A grant is available for standard classroom furniture
• Specialised furniture/equipment grant: Available for individual students who require specialised furniture/equipment.
• ICT Grant: a grant is available per new primary classroom in an existing building.
Other supports which may be available to support children enrolling in the special class include:
• Assistive Technology
• Access to the Special School Transport Scheme
• There are also a number of guidelines that can be referenced to assist schools opening a special class available on both my department’s and the NCSE’s websites including information on Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) opportunities.
269. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education what preparatory work is underway within her Department to contribute to the planned review of the National Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14972/25]
View answerSince 2020, my department has invested over €5.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. We continue to have a strong pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme with construction currently underway at approximately 300 projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.50bn. In April 2024 the department announced that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million is being invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 600,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate. This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector include:
• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level
• increased demand for special educational needs provision
• alignment of school place provision with new housing development
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
The Programme for Government recognises the importance of strong capital investment in the school building programme and supporting this with enhanced allocations through the NDP process.
My department is dedicated to the timely delivery of school projects to support sustainable communities. Our commitments under the Programme for Government recognise that schools are at the heart of communities, offering childcare, sports, and other essential services. Our School’s Climate Action plan is committed to achieving climate goals through expanded energy retrofit programs and will continue to support school maintenance with Minor Works Grants and the recently announced Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.
As part of the NDP review my department continues to assess future school place needs across 314 school planning areas using analysis of data from the CSO Census, Child Benefit, and school enrolments, while coordinating with all 31 Local Authorities to align school infrastructure planning with projected population growth and residential development. In parallel, my department engages with the National Council for Special Education to plan for new special classes and additional special school places, conducting detailed reviews of statistical data and existing school capacity.
My department has also introduced a School Energy Profile Inventory to establish both the energy baseline and condition of the school estate, enabling a comprehensive analysis of investment options by integrating energy and school estate condition data in a single survey process. A forthcoming parent survey will also assess demand for school ethos and Irish-medium education.
My department continues to work closely with DPENDR to ensure we can continue to deliver our commitments and to build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. Future NDP investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.
270. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the level of resources given the Coimisiun na Mean to counter online disinformation in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14645/25]
View answer271. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the level of resources given to Coimisiún na Meán to counter online disinformation in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14645/25]
View answerCoimisiún na Meán, established under the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Act, is Ireland’s online safety and media regulator. It plays an important role both in the regulation of online platforms and in support for public interest content across all media, both of which are important in addressing disinformation. Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland’s Digital Services Co-ordinator under the Digital Services Act, for which, Exchequer support of over €11m was allocated in 2024 from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment.
Coimisiún na Meán oversees the Media Fund that supports a range of funding schemes to support public interest content and help ensure that the public are served by high-quality, independent journalism that enhances democratic discourse and is trusted by citizens. Recently, €5.7m in funding was announced by Coimisiún na Meán through the Local Democracy and the Courts Reporting Schemes. These schemes were administered on a platform-neutral basis and aim to support under-served public-interest journalism, particularly in terms of reporting on local authority meetings and local and regional courts. The Schemes are providing funding for over 100 new or enhanced journalism roles.
In Budget 2025, €10m was secured to ensure the continuation of these schemes and to introduce two further schemes, the Digital Transformation Scheme and News Reporting Scheme. The Digital Transformation Scheme will aim to help media organisations transition from a traditional to a more digital-focused business model, while the News Reporting Scheme will provide another avenue of support for public-interest journalism.
Given the importance of independent radio and television in delivering vital public service content for our democracy and society, €6m was allocated in Budget 2025 to support the provision of high quality news and current affairs content on commercial radio and television. This is aligned with the commitment in the Programme for Government to ensure accessible funding to support the provision of objective news and current affairs content. This funding is intended to sustain the continued provision of free, independent, high-quality journalism that plays an indispensable role in providing objective, trustworthy and accurate news and current affairs coverage to the public.
In addition to these supports, funding dispersed through the Sound and Vision Scheme supports high quality, culturally relevant public service content across all television and radio stations. Last year, €22.7m was awarded to support 210 projects nationwide.
No one approach can solve the complex issue of disinformation. Education, media literacy initiatives, legislative initiatives like the EU Digital Services Act, and other regulatory approaches are key tools in Ireland’s response to the problem.
To help combat disinformation, the Government is undertaking a range of measures, including the development of a cross Government and civil society National Counter Disinformation Strategy (NCDS) as recommended by the Future of Media Commission (FoMC) report. An independently chaired working group was tasked with the development of the NCDS and has recently completed its work. I intend to bring this to Government shortly, with publication to follow thereafter. The Programme for Government has also committed to providing funding for the implementation of this strategy and this will feed into Budget 2026 negotiations.
All of these supports and initiatives are an important intervention in helping to address the multifaceted issue of disinformation, by developing and maintaining a diverse and trustworthy information environment.
272. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media how Donegal will benefit from the newly restored scéim na mbóithre áise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14863/25]
View answerThe recent Programme for Government included a commitment to restore Scéim na mBóithre Áise. However, no mechanism has been put in place for this as of yet. The re-establishment of the scheme will, of course, depend on money being made available through the Estimates Process for this purpose for the coming years and the Deputy will be aware that negotiations on the 2026 Estimates have yet to begin.
In the meantime, funding has been and will continue to be available under the Department of Rural and Community Development's Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) to assist local authorities in carrying out improvement work on non-public roads and roads that are not normally maintained as public routes.
Further information on this scheme is available on the Department's website.
273. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of actual and attempted cyberattacks on his Department during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, the countries of origin of those attacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14700/25]
View answerThrough the effective use of advanced technology and continual staff training my Department utilises a layered approach to cybersecurity. In addition the Department is in close contact with the National Cyber Security Centre who offer guidance and instruction regarding emerging threats and the ever changing cybersecurity landscape.For operational and security reasons, my Department does not disclose details of its cybersecurity arrangements or to disclose the details of any attempted cyberattacks or the origin of same.
274. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide the total sum allocated to each sport, such as GAA, soccer, tennis, athletics and so on, under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme over the ten year period 2015 to 2024 inclusive, in tabular form. [14704/25]
View answerOn 25 September 2024, €230 million was announced in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase 2 of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in total in 2024, taking account of the earlier equipment-only allocation of €26 million. This represents the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.
The total sum allocated to each sport under the CSFF over the ten year period 2015 to 2024 inclusive is as follows:
|
Sport Type |
Sum of Amount Allocated |
|
Gaelic Games |
€268,726,224.52 |
|
Multi-sport |
€111,993,751.01 |
|
Soccer |
€96,654,512.61 |
|
Golf |
€29,689,680.25 |
|
Rugby |
€29,402,358.91 |
|
Tennis |
€20,564,927.00 |
|
Athletics |
€14,348,102.00 |
|
Rowing |
€11,783,294.00 |
|
Sailing |
€6,924,709.00 |
|
Boxing |
€6,451,386.04 |
|
Hockey |
€6,048,675.41 |
|
Swimming |
€5,176,092.00 |
|
Canoeing / Kayaking |
€4,123,765.00 |
|
Cricket |
€3,829,334.00 |
|
Basketball |
€3,610,604.00 |
|
Handball |
€3,598,724.00 |
|
Community Games |
€3,573,507.05 |
|
Equestrian Sports |
€3,320,849.00 |
|
Diving/Snorkelling |
€2,907,283.00 |
|
Camogie |
€2,898,395.00 |
|
Gymnastics |
€2,823,816.00 |
|
Pitch and Putt |
€1,867,717.00 |
|
Cycling |
€1,798,994.21 |
|
Squash |
€1,546,998.00 |
|
Badminton |
€1,108,514.00 |
|
Triathlon |
€967,714.00 |
|
Special Olympics |
€963,923.00 |
|
Ladies Gaelic Football |
€824,782.00 |
|
Hillwalking |
€737,113.00 |
|
Wheelchair Sport |
€658,728.00 |
|
Martial Arts |
€633,732.00 |
|
Olympic Handball |
€620,728.00 |
|
Angling/Fishing |
€600,579.00 |
|
Mountaineering |
€472,626.00 |
|
Archery |
€445,997.00 |
|
Bowls |
€431,585.00 |
|
Skiing |
€378,268.91 |
|
Billiards & Snooker |
€342,447.00 |
|
Clay Pigeon Shooting |
€306,899.00 |
|
Weightlifting |
€306,462.00 |
|
Volleyball |
€267,793.00 |
|
American Football |
€233,518.00 |
|
Orienteering |
€215,804.00 |
|
Shooting Sports |
€207,501.00 |
|
Skydiving |
€154,911.00 |
|
Table Tennis |
€141,804.00 |
|
Surfing |
€136,377.00 |
|
Fencing |
€132,700.00 |
|
Taekwondo |
€124,292.00 |
|
Judo |
€110,705.00 |
|
Rock Climbing |
€107,991.00 |
|
Irish Wheelchair Association Sport |
€100,586.00 |
|
Raquetball |
€100,276.00 |
|
Ice Hockey |
€99,367.00 |
|
Tug of War |
€92,827.00 |
|
Skateboarding |
€86,956.00 |
|
Waterskiing & Wakeboarding |
€86,059.00 |
|
Tenpin bowling |
€83,408.00 |
|
Motor Sport |
€81,423.00 |
|
Vision Sports Ireland |
€62,974.00 |
|
Motorcycling |
€47,700.00 |
|
Modern Pentathlon |
€46,125.00 |
|
ROI Billiards & Snooker Association |
€38,436.00 |
|
Baseball |
€29,368.00 |
|
Paralympics Ireland |
€22,204.00 |
|
Pickleball |
€16,847.00 |
|
Croquet |
€15,699.00 |
|
Cerebral Palsy Sport |
€7,254.00 |
|
Lacrosse |
€7,000.00 |
|
Wrestling |
€6,500.00 |
|
Roller Derby |
€5,765.00 |
|
Gliding |
€1,693.00 |
|
Grand Total |
€656,335,659.92 |
275. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media how he views the short-term letting sector as a player in providing tourism accommodation, particularly in rural and coastal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14707/25]
View answerTourism is the most significant indigenous enterprise sector, employing almost 230,000 people, located throughout every corner of Ireland. The Central Statistics Office has reported that 6.6 million overseas tourists visited Ireland last year and generated €6 billion for the economy, an +11% increase on 2023. It is important that the tourism accommodation sector can offer a broad mix of properties to both overseas visitors and domestic tourists including hotel, hostel, guesthouse, camping and self catering accommodation.
According to the latest online data-scraping exercise by Fáilte Ireland c.32,000 STL properties are advertised online in Ireland. The data is based on the information contained in published listings for short term lets across Airbnb, Booking.com, TripAdvisor and VRBO, the four largest booking platforms operating in Ireland. This data cannot be regarded as definitive, but it is the best available data pending the introduction of the Short Term Letting (STL) register.
The proposed Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for Short Term Letting (STL) properties in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation which was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. The STLT Bill General Scheme requires Government approval to proceed with drafting of the Bill.
The introduction of the STL register will provide greater oversight of the tourism accommodation offering across the country which is necessary to support planning and policy decisions and the development and promotion of the tourism industry in the long term.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has committed to developing Planning Guidelines for the STL sector to supplement the introduction of the STLT Bill. This guidance is intended to provide clarity and certainty on the planning permission requirements in respect of STL properties. It is essential that the Guidelines offer a mechanism to ensure an appropriate balance is achieved between the STL sector and the long term housing market.
276. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total sum spent on cybersecurity measures within his Department during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. [14682/25]
View answerMy Department makes effective use of advanced technology and continual staff training to deploy a security by layer approach to its cybersecurity.
A total figure for each year requested is listed below.
2022: €105,718.042023: €201,877.492024: €276,799.88
277. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide all grant schemes offered and or issued to community and rural groups by his Department, from 2021 to the end of 2025, including opening, closing and award dates, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14754/25]
View answerThe details sought in respect of all grant schemes offered and or issued to community and rural groups by my Department, from 2021 to the end of 2025, are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Grant Scheme |
Opening Date |
Closing Date |
Award Date |
|
2021 |
Open Call for Strategic Partners Cruinniú na nÓg 2021 |
January 2021 |
February 2021 |
February 2021 |
|
2021 |
Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Funding Scheme |
9 March 2021 |
23 April 2021 |
21 June 2021 |
|
2021 |
Regional Museums Exhibition Scheme |
9 March 2021 |
23 April 2021 |
18 June 2021 |
|
2021 |
Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme |
9 March 2021 |
23 April 2021 |
23 June 2021 |
|
2021 |
Mobility of Collections Scheme |
9 March 2021 |
23 April 2021 |
No applications received |
|
2021-2022 |
Creative Climate Action Fund 2021/2022 |
March 2021 |
May 2021 |
July 2021 |
|
2022 |
Open Call for Strategic Partners Cruinniú na nÓg 2022 |
November 2021 |
November 2021 |
December 2021 |
|
2022 |
Traveller Health and Wellbeing through Creativity Scheme |
March 2022 |
April 2022 |
April 2022 |
|
2022 |
Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Funding Scheme |
28 February 2022 |
23 April 2022 |
22 July 2022 |
|
2022 |
Regional Museums Exhibition Scheme |
28 February 2022 |
22 April 2022 |
28 July 2022 |
|
2022 |
Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme |
28 February 2022 |
22 April 2022 |
19 July 2022 |
|
2022 |
Mobility of Collections Scheme |
28 February 2022 |
22 April 2022 |
No applications received |
|
2022-2025 |
Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme |
12 April 2022 |
12 May 2022 |
Successful applicants were notified on 8 September 2022 |
|
2023-2025 |
Creative Climate Action Fund II: Agents of Change |
November 2022 |
March 2023 |
July 2023 |
|
2023 |
Traveller Health and Wellbeing through Creativity Scheme |
February 2023 |
March 2023 |
May 2023 |
|
2023 |
Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Funding Scheme |
28 April 2023 |
9 June 2023 |
26 July 2023 |
|
2023 |
Regional Museums Exhibition Scheme |
28 April 2023 |
9 June 2023 |
08 August 2023 |
|
2023 |
Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme |
28 April 2023 |
9 June 2023 |
01 August 2023 |
|
2023 |
Mobility of Collections Scheme |
28 April 2023 |
9 June 2023 |
No applications received. |
|
2023 |
Community Sports and Facilities Fund (formerly Sports Capital and Equipment Programme) |
17 July 2023 |
8 September 2023 |
Provisional allocations announced on 9 May 2024 for Equipment Grants and on 25 September 2024 for Capital Grants |
|
2023-2025 |
Creative Youth Nurture Fund |
April 2023 |
June 2023 |
August 2023 |
|
2024 |
Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund |
26 April 2024 |
1 July 2024 |
4 November 2024 |
|
2024 |
Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Funding Scheme |
8 March 2024 |
26 April 2024 |
20 August 2024 |
|
2024 |
Regional Museums Exhibition Scheme |
8 March 2024 |
26 April 2024 |
23 August 2024 |
|
2024 |
Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme |
8 March 2024 |
26 April 2024 |
21 August 2024 |
|
2024 |
Mobility of Collections Scheme |
8 March 2024 |
26 April 2024 |
24 October 2024 |
|
2024-2025 |
Creative Youth on a Shared Island |
February 2024 |
March 2024 |
July 2024 |
|
2024 |
Open Call for Strategic Partners for Cruinniú na nÓg 2025-2027 |
September 2024 |
November 2024 |
December 2024 |
|
2025 |
Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Funding Scheme |
13 February 2025 |
04 April 2025 |
To be confirmed |
|
2025 |
Regional Museums Exhibition Scheme |
3 March 2025 |
04 April 2025 |
To be confirmed |
|
2025 |
Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme |
13 February 2025 |
04 April 2025 |
To be confirmed |
|
2025 |
Mobility of Collections Scheme |
3 March 2025 |
04 April 2025 |
To be confirmed |
In addition to this, my Department administers the schemes set out in the table below in relation to the Gaeltacht and Irish language, which are rolling grant programmes open on a continual basis.
|
Year |
Grant Scheme |
|
2021-2025 |
Community and Language Supports programme - Capital and Current |
|
2021-2025 |
Irish Language Support Schemes outside of the Gaeltacht – Capital |
|
2025 |
For 2025 a current provision of €10.7m has been made available under the Irish Language Support Schemes. The aim of this scheme is to develop and promote the Irish language outside of the Gaeltacht. Funding is provided for projects of strategic importance to the implementation of the Language Act and the Digital Plan for Irish. |
278. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the Careers Oversight Group has not met in over two years; when the Institute of Public Administration's report will be published; when is it expected that the Minister will have fully considered the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14774/25]
View answerThe Tourism and Hospitality Careers Oversight Group was established to support sustainable employment in the tourism and hospitality sector in order to attract and retain new and existing talent within the tourism and hospitality industry. The Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are both participants in this group which brings together industry representatives, state agencies, Government Departments and the education sector.
The Department has a positive working relationship and very good engagement with industry on all matters including employment in the tourism and hospitality sector. In the last number of weeks my colleague, Minister Peter Burke TD, in light of his role as the Minister who will have formal responsibility for tourism once that function has been transferred to him by Government Order, has met with the Irish Hotels Federation and the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and had meaningful and positive engagement, in addition to leading a tourism trade mission with Tourism Ireland to the USA.
An independent feasibility study was commissioned by my Department and completed in October last year in response to a number of concerns raised about the structure of the Tourism and Hospitality Careers Oversight Group and to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee report entitled “Working conditions and skills shortages in Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector”. Once Minister Burke has fully considered the feasibility study he will engage with the sector on its findings and on how best to advance the cause of valuable careers within the sector. In the meantime, Departmental officials will continue to address any issues as they arise and Minister Burke has asked them to look at how best the ongoing engagement with the sector can yield strategic insights to grow high quality employment in the tourism and hospitality sector.
279. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to address concerns that the proposal to allow the Carna Bay Hotel in Carna, in the Connemara Gaeltacht, to be used as an international protection accommodation centre will have a serious impact on the ability to retain a culture of the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14876/25]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for all contracted accommodation used to house Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) and International Protection (IP) applicants and is engaged across Government concerning temporary accommodation for those in need of shelter.
280. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the resources provided within his Department for the summer camps scheme, which provides Irish language enrichment and acquisition opportunities for young people in the out-of-school environment during the summer; and whether an increase could be provided to support organisations which seek to organise such summer camps through the medium of Irish. [14881/25]
View answerMy Department currently provides funding of €330,000 per annum to Údarás na Gaeltachta who are responsible for administering the Summer Camp Scheme in the Gaeltacht on behalf of the Department. The funding provided by my Department for the scheme benefits over 6,000 children who attend over 200 approved camps in the Gaeltacht each year. My Department has also made funding of €140,000 available to Foras na Gaeilge for that organisation’s Summer Camp Scheme in 2025.
