Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 October 2025
70. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to clarify if any advance notice was given by him or by his Department to potential applicants of the first-come, first-served approach to allocating funding under the grassroots music venues support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52542/25]
View answerI launched the Grassroots Music Venue Support Scheme in March this year, to support small established music venues that promote themselves and are known in the community for programming grassroots music artists.
The Scheme operated with a total fund of €500,000 and grants were available of up to €15,000 to host events showcasing the talent of emerging, grassroots artists performing live music they have written or created themselves.
With the recent announcement of an additional two recipients one in Cork and one in Donegal, a total of 34 venues have now been offered funding under the Night-Time Economy Grassroots Music Venues Support Scheme.
The guidelines for the Grassroots Music Venue Support Scheme, published to coincide with the launch in March, included a section on approval procedures which advised that applications would be considered strictly by order of date and time of receipt by the Department and must meet the eligibility criteria and conditions of funding. These guidelines were published on Gov.ie and were available to all potential applicants.
A total of 96 applications were received by my Department. Applications were assessed by my officials strictly by order of date and time of receipt and all venues had to meet the eligibility criteria and conditions of funding, in accordance with the guidelines of the Scheme.
I understand that there are many disappointed applicants but, as I have already stated, I recognise the value of this Scheme to venues across Ireland and I am committed to considering another phase of this in the future.
