Joanna Byrne
Question:131. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if the proposal to introduce a social media ban for under 16s has been abandoned; and if so, the reasons. [16790/26]
View answerSocial Media
Questions (131)
Oral answers (5 contributions)
The Government's position on the issue of restricting access to social media platforms for children under 16 years of age is set out in the Government's recently published national digital and AI strategy. The Government is committed to working closely with like-minded European Union member states on proposals to restrict social media access for children and young people. In addition, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, announced an expert panel to examine the issue and any decision will take account of this report. This reflects the Government's view that a decision at EU would be preferable.
However, as set out in the strategy, Ireland will also take action domestically if necessary. The European Union member states are examining questions of prohibiting access by children and young people to social medial platforms and some are taking steps to do so, including France, which is debating legislation to restrict access to social media for under-15s. Australia is implementing such a measure in respect of under-16s and other jurisdictions are considering similar measures. However, across the European Union there are different views on whether there should be a digital age of majority, and if there was such an age, what that age should be and whether it should be an outright ban or a ban subject to parental consent.
Notwithstanding the international debate on the age of majority, I am of the view that age verification is a vital part of the picture in providing real assurance that children are the age they claim to be and to ensure they are not exposed to harmful or illegal content. Without robust age verification, any other measures including implementing a digital age of majority will not work. That is why my officials are working with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer on an age verification tool as part of Ireland's digital wallet in support of the implementation of Ireland's online safety code. This wallet will be voluntary for people to hold and the tool will be voluntary for users and platforms to avail of. A pilot is envisaged to be led by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and will be voluntary and will run for a number of months. Feedback from the pilot will inform the shape of the initiative but while doing so we will ensure interoperability and respect users' rights, including data protection.
The Minister will understand our confusion this evening. According to media reports, he was blindsided by the Government's announcement of the national digital and AI strategy 2030 last week. Just the day before that announcement, media sources were briefed that the under-16s' social media ban had been approved and that the strategy would be rolled out the following day. The media further stated that the Minister was surprised by the plan to work at EU level and that he was not aware of it, despite being the Minister responsible.
We are really just looking for a bit of clarity here, after months of press statements starting in May of last year when the Tánaiste announced the Government was looking at copying the Australian model that banned all under-16s from social media. There has been a lot of kite-flying, there has been a lot of media coverage and what we seem to have now is an ambiguous Government statement about working actively with like-minded EU member states to explore options on introducing age restrictions on the use of social media, concentrating in particular on those under 16. In his response, the Minister said the strategy states that the Government will take action if necessary. I am still unclear as to the concrete pathway on which we are moving forward with this.
There has been no ambiguity regarding what I have previously said in the House. This is the first time Deputy Byrne has raised this issue in the House with me on oral questions. There has been no ambiguity regarding this issue from my point of view. I do not care what people read in the paper. The reality is I have consistently said and am on the record as saying that I thought it was regrettable the European Commission and the European Union had not acted as one with regard to this up to now, and that individual member states are being left to do it.
I have also put on the record, as I am doing this evening, that we will be bringing forward legislation, once the heads of the Bill have been agreed, in the first quarter of this year with regard to elements of the digital wallet that will be required to make sure we can put it into law. I hope that at that stage I get support from the Opposition. I have not got clarity with regard to where the Opposition stands on the digital wallet. Indeed, I have not got clarity on where it stands regarding age verification or whether it believes age verification is a necessary tool. Deputy Byrne might use the opportunity this evening to enlighten the House as to where exactly her party stands on this issue.
One thing the Minister and I do agree on is encouraging the safety of our youth online. Our preference is to have a safe, well-regulated online world for our teens, where social media companies are held to account for what is on their platforms, which can be done by Ireland's online safety framework, and where bad actors online are removed from platforms and face repercussions.
What I do have concerns about is an outright ban for under-16s, and I will tell the Minister why. It is unenforceable as teens are simply well ahead of us in the technological age and they will use virtual private networks, VPNs, to circumvent the blocks. This concern is shared by CyberSafeKids, the Children's Rights Alliance and other experts in the field that have been before the committee week after week in recent months and have all shared that concern. They feel it will further isolate marginalised teens such as those living in emergency accommodation. They feel that with us living in a technological age, if we are excluding youths at that age, they will not be prepared for what the digital age will be like when they reach the allowed age.
I am still no clearer as to whether the Deputy's party is going to support legislation that is going to be brought before the House in respect of a digital wallet. This is the public health issue of our generation. I have three small children and I am speaking as a parent. Previous generations had issues with smoking and alcohol from a public health point of view. We know that social media causes huge issues around mental health, addiction and physical health.
Deputy Byrne is talking about a self-regulated system. What does that mean in the absence of a law? I am still no clearer. Again, will Deputy Byrne enlighten me, as Opposition spokesperson, whether she is in favour of taking children off social media or whether she is in favour of allowing social media companies to continue to be the dominant voice on the future of our children online, because I am no clearer as to where her party stands on it?
Racism in Sport
Questions (132)
Robert O'Donoghue
Question:132. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the immediate measures he is taking to monitor, prevent, and address discriminatory online harassment and the alarming levels of online abuse directed at national sports representatives, particularly targeting those from ethnic minority backgrounds; the way in which he will ensure that perpetrators are held accountable to protect the dignity and safety of athletes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17066/26]
View answerOral answers (6 contributions)
Recent incidents have highlighted the alarming levels of online abuse directed at our national sports representatives, particularly targeting those from ethnic minority backgrounds. What immediate measures is the Minister's Department taking to moderate, prevent and address such discriminatory online harassment and how will he ensure the perpetrators are held accountable to protect the dignity and safety of our athletes?
I thank Deputy O'Donoghue. Threats and harassment of any individual are not acceptable. The safeguarding of athletes at all levels of sport is a shared responsibility. It is imperative that we demonstrate that there is simply no place for abuse of any kind in sport and there should be zero tolerance for any actions that endanger welfare, whether of participants, staff or those who work for and support sports or, indeed, any discipline in the country. Everyone involved in sport, or in any discipline or capacity, regardless of age should be able to enjoy an experience that is free from any form of abuse, whether that is online or offline.
On raising awareness, a number of national governing bodies of sport have conducted campaigns in recent years with a specific focus on online abuse, including the Olympic Federation of Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union. We recently saw the racism that has been directed at some people playing rugby in this country and it is absolutely despicable.
The bringing to justice of the perpetrators of such abuse, whether online or offline, is a matter for An Garda Síochána and if anyone has been subjected to threats or abuse, they should report it immediately to the Garda. Furthermore, I encourage anyone who sees any abusive or threatening content online to report it in the first instance to the relevant platform. If a person is dissatisfied with the platform’s response, they can report it to Coimisiún na Meán.
In terms of dealing with this issue from an online safety perspective, a robust online safety framework in now in place in Ireland. Coimisiún na Meán has responsibility for implementing that framework, which includes applying and enforcing the online safety code to designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland to ensure they minimise the availability of harmful online content.
Platforms must provide a way for people to report content they think is illegal, respond to these reports in a timely and diligent manner and consistently enforce their own terms and conditions. In particular, under the Digital Services Act, which is part of Ireland’s online safety framework, the largest online platforms must take mitigation measures against the availability and exposure of users to illegal online content. This includes, albeit not exhaustively, threatening, abusive or insulting comments that are intended or are likely to stir up hatred as detailed in the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989. Once again, I and the Government condemn all forms of abuse and urge those affected to notify the relevant authorities.
I thank the Minister. Online abuse is no longer confined to social media. It spills out into our stadiums, communities and local sports grounds. I was a soccer referee for a long time and I can attest to that. It is lovely to hear the Minister say there must be zero tolerance. For this behaviour, those responsible - it is hard to call them fans - should face real consequences. They should be banned from matches. They should have their online accounts sanctioned and we should have the social media companies walk with us. The Minister mentioned the abuse aimed at Edwin Edogbo, for which the IRFU had to turn off comments. That shows how serious the problem is. If we do not act now and hold people accountable, it will only get worse. Recent incidents, including the flares thrown in Oriel Park at a young supporter, show the real-life consequences. As the Minister said, abuse should have no place in sport. Enforcement is a good thing as long as it works. The numbers on enforcement from Coimisiún na Meán would be good to see.
I agree with the Deputy. To be honest, unfortunately, it is not isolated to one cohort in society. People in this House get their fair share of it as well and it is totally unwarranted. Whether a person is in Opposition or Government, there is a common thread that unites all of us who put our name on a ballot paper and get in here. The abuse some people get, particularly women Members of this House and the other House, is absolutely unbelievable. These nameless and faceless trolls hide behind makey-uppy names and invariably have a flag of some description stuck on after them. They besmirch our national flag and invariably bring it into disrepute.
Those people, if they stood for election to a bin collection committee, would not get elected. They are very brave men and women who hide behind faceless troll accounts and fake names. They think they are really brave men because they are ganging up on people who actually have done the State some service by putting their names on a ballot paper, regardless of what party or no party gets in here. The same can be said of sport. Any co-operation and suggestions members of the Opposition have on this are welcome. Going back to the previous question, I will take every bit of it on board because collectively, we have to get serious and get real on this. None of these people are any of our friends, by the way. Some people or some political parties might benefit occasionally from trolling but none of them are any of our friends.
A member of my bunch's last time in Government can confirm that. I thank the Minister. I do not believe it was a good idea to withhold funding from the clubs based off the incident in Oriel Park when the root of the cause really lies elsewhere. It begins online with what is usually a small minority using social media platforms to whip up outrage and hostility before a ball is even kicked. Clubs, which do extraordinary work on the ground and in their communities, should not be punished for the actions of individuals acting behind anonymous accounts, as the Minister mentioned. The focus must be held on those online platforms and users to be held properly accountable.
No one here should face abuse - Government or Opposition. I have spoken about this before and emphasised that strong adult safeguarding policies must be a priority for every club from local level all the way up to our international superstars. We must ensure sport remains what it is when it is at its best, a force that brings people together and builds communities.
With regard to the situation in County Louth that the Deputy raised, it is important to state that the national governing bodies here, the FAI and the League of Ireland, accepted their responsibilities, in fairness to them, because ultimately they are the governing authorities for this sport. I was not going to single out one. I had to single out the governing authority. When I met the governing authorities last week, they did not in any way push back with regard to the proposed sanction I had. In fairness to them, the following day, they brought forward a suite of measures that was proportionate to what had happened. They also sent out a very salient message to other clubs within their ambit of national governance, which is that if any of the rest of them engage in this sort of carry-on or thuggery, this is exactly what they are likely to face as well.
The challenge now for other national governing bodies of sport is to do the same and take the lead of the League of Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland. They need to look at these two institutions, the League of Ireland and the FAI, see where they have gone and pitched their penalties, and they have to do the same. That has to apply to all sporting codes in all disciplines.
Information and Communications Technology
Questions (133)
Joanna Byrne
Question:133. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the details of the status of the delivery for use of the new ICT system to replace the existing sports capital programme grant management systems, OSCAR; the total spend on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16791/26]
View answerOral answers (7 contributions)
Will the Minister of State give an update on the delivery of the new ICT system to replace the existing sports capital programme grant management system and outline the total spend on the project and where it is at?
I thank the Deputy. As she knows, my Department operates two sports capital funding programmes, namely, the community sports facilities fund, CSFF, and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. Both programmes are administered via an online customer portal, the online sports capital register, or OSCAR as it will be known to anyone who has made an application and been responsible in their club for engaging with the community sports facilities fund or the LSSIF over the past few years. It is also based on an internal administrative system, the CRM.
In 2022, my Department identified the need to replace the existing OSCAR system. The Department approved Pobal, a State-sponsored agency, as the preferred provider to design and develop the new system. The project to replace OSCAR with a new, contemporary offering is tracking well with delivery and budgetary milestones and is due for delivery in the course of the first half of this year. The total expenditure on the project to date is €759,000. As we will all appreciate, the development of a modern, cloud-based grant management system to replace the existing OSCAR platform will facilitate greater streamlining of the sports capital grant processes, enhanced reporting and improved stakeholder communication and will also enable enhanced, data-driven decision-making. This in turn will ensure scalable and resilient service to applicants and funded organisations.
As we would often say about an old car that has done a lot of service, it owes us nothing. The same could be said of the OSCAR system. It has served many rounds of funding and done so well but time has moved on. We are now moving to introduce a system that will be better able to meet the needs and adopt up-to-date technology to make sure the user experience is as good as it can be. We also want the system to have the capacity to be able to track applications and make sure they are clearly accounted for in an effective way within the Department as well.
It is now March. When I asked a question on this last June, the response I received was that we would have a fully developed online customer portal and an administrative case management system in March 2026. I appreciate that the Minister of State said it is coming very soon, but the urgency on this was for it to be up and running before the new round of the CSFF opens and for that to be able to facilitate an ease of application and an easy navigation portal for those using it.
I have travelled around the country, as has the Minister of State, meeting sporting organisations and the one thing that comes up time and again is the arduous application process and the system being hard to navigate, particularly for voluntary-led organisations but is not just the voluntary organisations that are finding it difficult. Some of the bigger national governing bodies with experienced, qualified staff are also finding it difficult. That is the urgency on it. If it is ready this summer, that is well and good, but I am not the only person who is keen to see that come before the next round of funding opens.
I agree. It is certainly tracking to be in place to be able to run the new sports capital funding round on that system as well. That is certainly the position we want to be in. I have met very regularly with the team and we have been leading out on this to make sure the progress has been tracked and that there has been a prioritisation put on it within the Department.
The work is progressing well. The team assures me we are on track to open for applications in late May and into June. We want to be in a position to be able to do it on this system. It will put us in a strong position with a modern, up-to-date system. I continue to liaise closely with the team to ensure that project is completed and is ready to be able to carry the new funding round.
That is brilliant. It is very welcome news. I appreciate that. If it is relatively on time and on budget, that is great news to all of the sporting organisations the length and breadth of the country that will use it. The only thing I ask is that there be a test run beforehand to ensure all of the bugs are ironed out so that it does not pose any difficulties to any applications that come through on it, but it is brilliant news.
There is a project management team in place and the different steps involved in the process include the transfer of data from the previous OSCAR system onto the new system. The testing of it will be part of the process too. A lot of work has gone into the initial part in terms of the building of it to be able to take on applications. I have been liaising with the team very closely on it. There is a lot of confidence in the team that we are on track to be able to run the new round on the new system.
We are ahead of time and those were very positive exchanges. I hope we will continue in this manner.
Culture Policy
Questions (134)
Sinéad Gibney
Question:134. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps his Department is taking to update the codes of practice for live events, particularly live music events, to better facilitate live music performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17202/26]
View answerOral answers (18 contributions)
The national codes of practice governing events date from 1996 and 1998 and have not been formally updated in almost 30 years. This has left a situation where Dublin city, Cork, Galway, Kerry and Fingal local authorities have all introduced supplementary event guidance that have different criteria, documents needed and procedures. Will the Department push for the national code to be updated to support consistency in how we run live events nationally?
I thank the Deputy. I believe he is taking this for Deputy Gibney.
I am.
As Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, I am committed to the support and development of the live music industry. The Department, both through its own schemes as well as its funding of the Arts Council, provides support to a range of organisations that play essential roles in the development of music in Ireland.
Last year, I launched the grassroots music venue support scheme, a night-time economy initiative to support independent music venues that promote themselves and are known in the community for programming grassroots music artists, in recognition of the contribution they make to the industry. The scheme operated with a total fund of €500,000 and grants of up to €15,000 were available to host events showcasing the talent of emerging, grassroots artists performing live music they had written or created themselves in 34 venues right across the country.
This year, I have secured an increased allocation and committed €1 million in funding to support independent live performance venues with another edition of the grassroots music venue support scheme.
Details of the scheme are currently being finalised.
The Arts Council provides funding support to Irish arts centres and live performance venues which support year-round, high-quality, professional programming and infrastructure. In addition, the Commissions Award, funded through the Arts Council, supports individual music and opera artists and organisations, and festival organisers, to develop new work.
The music capital scheme, which is supported by my Department and managed by Music Network, has been awarding individual musicians and organisations, by providing access to instruments for people across the country.
These types of initiatives focus on supporting, nurturing and strengthening the live music sector, from the grassroots up by providing music education, employment opportunities for emerging artists and professionals.
As Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and various funding streams that support the development of the live music sector. However, the codes of practice in relation to live events or music events does not fall under the remit of the Department. Codes of practice in relation to live events fall within the remit of a number of different bodies and Departments. The events industry is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and licensing is a matter for local authorities under regulations most recently amended under the Planning and Development (Licensing of Outdoor Events - Planning and Development Act 2000) Regulations 2025, SI 37 of 2025.
I appreciate that the Department oversees the funding of arts but there is a significant gap in the sense that the Department's budgets operate on a 2026 basis but the laws upon which these events occur date from 1996. That creates a problem. There is a gap in terms of regulation. If you have an event in Dublin, you have the same event in Galway and you have a similar event in Cork, you are dealing with different processes, different licensing and different paperwork. That creates gaps for people who only want to put on events.
I appreciate the Minister is not the licensing body when it comes to events and that he is not the regulator when it comes to how these laws are developed but we need leadership here. If I talked to the Minister for housing, he would state this is not his role. If I talked to the Department of justice, it would say the same. Events need leadership and I suppose we are asking the Minister to demonstrate leadership in relation to these live events' codes.
I welcome the fact the Deputy acknowledged that this is not a responsibility for the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. As I said a while ago, the planning legislation - this is a planning matter and events are covered under event licences - is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the first instance but supports from an enterprise point of view are a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
As I said a while ago, the Planning and Development Act 2000 lay down with strict criteria how events are to be planned under event licensing. It is a matter for local authorities, and rightly so. If there was any attempt to remove event licensing from local authorities, the Deputy would have great difficulty with it from a Dublin city point of view as would a lot of his colleagues from around the country would because this is a local function that should be performed locally.
I am talking about updating events' codes, which are 30 years outdated. The Minister referenced the Department of housing, which has responsibility for planning and the Department of enterprise. He said surely I would not wish to interfere with local authorities but that creates a gap for those who wish to put on live events. There are very significant discrepancies between holding an event in one county and holding an event in another county. Deputy O'Donovan is the Minister with responsibility for arts and culture and the funding authority. Surely he can see there is a need to have a national standardised process if you want to hold a live event. Surely it does not matter if you are holding it in Cork or Limerick. There should be a standardised process and standardised paperwork.
Of course, I value the night-time economy in Dublin. I understand the night-time economy in Dublin will be different from that in a town but the means by which I put on an event does not necessarily have to be different. The paperwork should be the same. The processes should be the same. Local authorities absolutely have a role in this in terms of support but the development of regulation guidance should be nationally standardised.
The Deputy is conflating as fact that all events are music events, which, of course, they are not. Some events are agricultural shows. Some events are religious events.
They do not have an event code.
It is a matter for planning. Event licensing is Ronseal - it does what it says on the tin. It is event licensing. It is a matter for the local authority, in the first instance, to decide whether to grant or not grant an event licence. You have everything from sports to agricultural shows to music to everything else.
As much as I am Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, I am not Minister with regard to papal visits, agricultural shows or anything of that nature.
They do not have an event code.
The question that the Deputy asked was with regard to music performance but then he decided to go off on a tangent with regard to outdoor events.
Sorry-----
Deputy, you have had your time.
The Deputy said-----
-----the question states, "codes of practice for live events, particularly live music events, to better facilitate live music performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter." The Minister went off on a tangent from the question.
Deputy, you have had your time.
The Deputy said that you want all events consistent across the country and being handled by my Department. That is a physical impossibility because we are not a planning Department. As a former member of a local authority, the Deputy should know what the local authority does with regard to event licensing. Removing a power from a local authority would go down like a lead balloon with the Deputy's colleagues.
Cistiúchán Roinne
Questions (135)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:135. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport an bhfuil sé i gceist aige ciste caipitil ealaíon a bhunú ar mhúnla an chiste caipitil spóirt chun freastal ar riachtanais spáis d’ealaíontóirí agus taispeántais, agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh [17092/26]
View answerOral answers (6 contributions)
Tá an cheist seo dírithe ar an Aire. Táim ag iarraidh a fháil amach cad go díreach atá i gceist aige maidir le ciste caipitil ealaíon a bhunú ar mhúnla an chiste chaipitil spóirt, atá ag oibriú faoi láthair, chun feabhas a chur ar na spásanna atá ar fáil d'ealaíontóirí timpeall na tíre.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an seans seo cúpla freagra a thabhairt trí Ghaeilge i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Mar atá leagtha amach i gclár an Rialtais, creideann an Rialtas go bhfuil an cultúr agus na healaíona riachtanach do leas an phobail. Tá líonra de bhonneagar cultúrtha ar fud na tíre agus an tromlach faoi úinéireacht na n-údarás áitiúil. Cuireann údaráis áitiúla agus an Chomhairle Ealaíon tacaíocht bhliantúil ar fáil don bhonneagar ealaíon agus cultúir seo, lena n-áirítear tacaíochtaí reatha a chabhraíonn le clár ealaíon a chur ar siúl.
Díríonn mo Roinn ar mhaoiniú deontais chaipitil a sholáthar chun cabhrú le forbairt agus chun aire a thabhairt do na háiseanna ealaíon agus cultúir seo. Tá roinnt cláir mhaoinithe á reáchtáil ag an Roinn faoin scéim um chaipiteal cultúrtha le blianta beaga anuas. Is é sruth E an ceann is déanaí, a chuir deontais suas le €50,000 ar fáil le haghaidh oibreacha caipitil agus a leithéid.
De réir an ghealltanais i gclár an Rialtais, cuireadh €6 milliún ar fáil do mo Roinn i mbuiséad 2026 le haghaidh clár nua maoinithe caipitil d'eagraíochtaí ealaíon agus cultúir ar fud na tíre. Cuirfidh sé seo tacaíochtaí caipitil a bhfuil géarghá leo ar fáil do na heagraíochtaí seo. Tá mo Roinn i mbun sonraí na scéime a dhearadh, lena n-áirítear critéir chun cur isteach ar an scéim.
Is scéim maoinithe caipitil chultúrtha eile atá ar fáil ó mo Roinn an scéim phíolótach €6 milliún do spásanna oibre d'ealaíontóirí, a seoladh i mí an Mheithimh 2024. Faoin scéim seo, tugtar cuireadh d'údaráis áitiúla, lasmuigh de Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath, tionscadail a mholadh a chuirfidh ar a gcumas spásanna oibre d'ealaíontóirí a sholáthar. Tá maoiniú suas le €300,000 ar fáil do cheantair údarás áitiúil a bhfuil daonra dlúth iontu agus €150,000 d'údaráis áitiúla eile. Críochnóidh mé an freagra go luath.
Tá sé tábhachtach aitheantas a thabhairt don obair atá á déanamh, cé go bhfuilim ag iarraidh go mbeidh níos mó ann. Táim ag lorg go mbeidh cur chuige an chiste chaipitil do spóirt á úsáid, go mbeidh an t-aitheantas sin ann amach ansin agus go mbeidh na comhairlí contae nó na heagrais ealaíon in ann dul chuig an Aire nó pé duine a bheidh san oifig chun airgead a lorg chun cuidiú leis an obair. Nílim ag caint faoin airgead iomlán. Bheadh ar na comhairlí agus na heagrais sin a gcuid oibre féin a dhéanamh. B'fhéidir go bhfaca an tAire sna páipéir an tseachtain seo an plean atá ag Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath i leith Merchants Quay. Tá an chomhairle chun athmhaisiú nó athchóiriú a dhéanamh ar thrí fhoirgneamh. Beidh 20 spás ann d'ealaíontóirí.
Ní tharlóidh sé sin ach amháin go bhfuil siad ag fáil €4 mhilliún ó dhuine gan ainm mar bhronntanas. Níl an t-airgead ag an gcomhairle chun é sin a dhéanamh í féin mar sin tá gá le tacaíochtaí ón Rialtas.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Bhí cruinniú agam um thráthnóna leis na hoifigigh sa Roinn maidir leis an scéim de €3 mhilliún atá curtha ar fáil do Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath. Space to create an t-ainm atá ar an scéim. Tá sé an-tábhachtach dom go mbeadh an t-airgead seo á chur ar fáil don chomhairle cathrach go luath agus go mbeidh an chomhairle ag teacht go dtí an Roinn le plean chun úsáid a bhaint as an méid airgid sin. Tá súil agam go mbeidh mé in ann teacht ar ais go dtí an Teach go luath chun cuntas a thabhairt ar an €3 mhilliún sin.
Maidir leis an €6 mhilliún atá fógartha agam i mbuiséad 2026, tá súil agam go mbeidh mé in ann scéim cosúil leis an sports capital a tharraingt amach. Beidh mé ag caint go soiléir leis na comhairlí cathracha agus comhairlí contae agus freisin leis na húdaráis bheaga atá ag obair i gcúrsaí ealaíona timpeall na tíre.
Ní i mBaile Átha Cliath amháin atá an t-airgead seo ag teastáil. Tá sé go maith go bhfuil an €6 mhilliún sin ann don chuid eile don tír anuas ar an €3 mhilliún a luaigh an tAire ansin do Bhaile Átha Cliath. Mar a luaigh mé, níl ansin ach scéim amháin. Tá a lán scéimeanna eile ag an gcomhairle. San áireamh, tá an scéim le 500 méadar cearnach a tugadh do na healaíon thíos ag Calafort Átha Cliath; an campas ealaíne atá siad ag díriú isteach air ansin. Luaigh an tAire ceann eile an uair dheireanach. Bhí muid ag caint faoin Rupert Guinness Theatre agus an t-airgead a chosnóidh sé sin. Tá sé sin i mBaile Átha Cliath ach má théann tú go dtí Corcaigh tá suíomhanna ansin ar ghá a lán airgid a chaitheamh orthu chun go mbeadh siad i gceart do na healaíontóirí atá á húsáid agus caithfimid cuidiú leo. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil mé ag tabhairt tacaíocht iomlán don Aire ó thaobh an chuir chuige. Tá mé ag iarraidh air, más féidir in aon chor, i bhfad Éireann níos mó airgid a chur ar fáil do na healaíon agus na háiteanna seo timpeall na tíre ar fad.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an méid tacaíochta a thug sé dom maidir leis an scéim phíolótach basic income for the arts. Tá sé an-tábhachtach dom go bhfuil sé seo críochnaithe go dtí seo agus go mbeidh muid in ann an scéim a chur i bhfeidhm arís i rith an tsamhraidh.
Maidir leis an scéim nua eile atá i mbuiséad 2026 a labhair an Teachta faoi, beidh mé in ann, le cúnamh Dé, teacht ar ais go dtí an Teach go luath leis an scéim seo. Má tá deis ag an Teachta cabhair a thabhairt dom chun an scéim seo a bhaint amach leis na heagraíochtaí éagsúla, ní hamháin i mBaile Átha Cliath ach timpeall na tíre freisin, b’fhéidir go bhféadfadh sé ríomhphoist a sheoladh chugam chun a chuid smaointí a phlé. Fáiltím roimhe sin mar cabhróidh sé leis an méid oibre atá le déanamh agam agus atá á déanamh agam faoi láthair.
Sports Facilities
Questions (136)
Barry Heneghan
Question:136. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to set out all funding provided by his Department or by Sport Ireland to a centre (details supplied) over the past five years; the amount provided each year; the purpose of the funding; any conditions attached, including requirements around community access or participation; whether those conditions have been reviewed for compliance, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17225/26]
View answerOral answers (6 contributions)
Today, I raise an issue I have raised multiple times in this House and that is the issue of north Dublin's grassroots clubs being effectively blocked out of a centre. The Oscar Traynor centre was sold for €500,000, despite its 2022 evaluation of €4.25 million. I have no problem with a professional club getting a good value-for-money deal. However, I do have an issue with young women and young boys in an area I represent being effectively blocked out from playing football. Could the Minister of State give me an explanation or evaluation? I would appreciate that.
Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the community sport facilities fund, CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across the country.
The Deputy’s question referred to the Oscar Traynor centre, where €509,182 was allocated to the centre under the CSFF in the period in question. In the 2020 CSFF round, we allocated €23,563 for sporting equipment, including non-personal portable goalposts. My Department is awaiting further information from the organisation before payment can be made. Under the 2023 CSFF round, €485,619 was allocated towards an artificial playing surface, floodlight upgrading, natural playing surface works and ball stop netting. Formal approval to commence these works was granted in December 2025 but no payment requests have been received yet.
All CSFF grantees must sign a declaration that from the date of the grant, they will not deny anybody access to any facility or part of a facility for which they received a grant, on the grounds of gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religious belief or membership of the Traveller or Roma community without just, reasonable and proper cause. The Government is focused on promoting life-long participation in physical activity and sport for all sectors of society and communities. We are committed to a Sport for All approach, aimed at ensuring all persons have the opportunity to partake equally in sport and physical activity regardless of age, social-economic status, disability, or membership of, for example, the LGBTI+ community, the Traveller community or other ethnic minorities.
My Department routinely carries out compliance reviews and annual spot-checks on a proportion of grant-aided projects as allocations are drawn down and participation and inclusion aspects are an important feature of those reviews.
I understand and appreciate that but when I raised this with the Tánaiste months ago, I asked how many Troy Parrotts or Denise O'Sullivans there would be. We just saw the Irish women's team lose two to one to France. North Dublin has a proud history of providing some, if not the best, footballers to the Irish football team. Now, these young men and young women in the area I represent are effectively being blocked out. I have parents, teenagers and children sending me messages to say they cannot train or play the sport they love.
This was sold for €500,000 despite an evaluation of €4.25 million. I have no problem with any professional club, and this is not because I support other professional clubs. I represent an area and the children in this area deserve to play the sport. It appears the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, was eager to cash in on the sale, which allowed the organisation to recoup investment. In turn, a professional club secured a permanent academy base but blocked out local clubs I represent.
The understanding is the Oscar Traynor coach and development centre, owned by Bohemians FC, acquired a long-term lease hold on the facility from Dublin City Council. The use of public lands are ultimately a matter for the relevant local authority and not my Department.
Access to the facility is now a matter for the FAI and as all NGBs are independent and autonomous bodies and, as such, are responsible for their own governance and operational matters, including the management and operation of its facilities, it is a matter for that organisation to ensure appropriate access.
As I said, with the sports funding we provide, there is an onus on everyone to ensure people of all backgrounds, all ethnicities and minorities are included. As regards the checks we put in place, we monitor these and will certainly be doing so for this application and every other application as well.
I appreciate that and I understand the remit the Minister of State's Department holds but I would love if he could chase up how the FAI allowed a grassroots facility serving thousands of young players I represent to be handed over to a club without committee approval. Why was one person allowed to execute the transfer of the site? What checks are in place to prevent this from happening? What role did the FAI play in facilitating a deal that removed community access for north Dublin children who are directly benefiting from this facility? Why was the site sold for a fraction of its value? I understand the Minister of State said he is bound by certain things but the Minister for sport must address these questions. What steps were taken to assess the community impact of this sale?
There are four clubs in the Kilmore, Coolock and Darndale areas. Children in these areas who want to play sport cannot do so because they do not have the facilities. I understand that work is being done by Dublin City Council, which I welcome, to improve all-weather pitches. Something needs to be done on this issue. It needs to be looked into. Will the FAI take responsibility for its role?
As I said, my understanding is that a long-term leasehold on the facility was acquired from Dublin City Council. In the first instance, this is a matter between Dublin City Council and the organisation concerned.
In relation to approving and granting funds, we check to make sure that applications meet the criteria and that the access conditions are fulfilled. We will continue to do that in relation to all applications. On the transaction and lease in question, that is a matter for the organisation and Dublin City Council.