Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
373. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide details of all grant schemes currently available through his Department for which individuals or community groups are eligible to apply; the purpose of each grant scheme; the eligibility criteria; the application process; the opening and closing dates for application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53412/26]
View answerAcross its broad remit of responsibilities, my Department directly administers a range of funding schemes, grant programmes and financial supports. The information sought by the Deputy in respect of those currently administered by my Department, as well as the expected launch and closing dates for applications for those schemes planned for 2026, are set out in the table below.
Details of all expenditure by my Department is contained in the Annual Appropriation Accounts which are published by the Comptroller and Auditors and are available at the following link: www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/
|
Grant Scheme |
Purpose of Scheme |
Eligibility Criteria and Application Process |
2026 Application Opening & Closing Dates |
|
Small Scale Local Festivals & Summer Schools Scheme |
Supports small local cultural festivals and summer schools 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. |
Details on the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/small-scale-local-festivals-and-summer-schools-funding-scheme-2026 |
Applications were open from 5 March – 2 April 2026 |
|
Co-operation with Northern Ireland |
Supports small self-contained projects which seek to enhance, celebrate or commemorate the arts, culture, music, film or heritage of the Island of Ireland on a North/South basis. |
Details on the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/2026-co-operation-with-northern-ireland-scheme/ |
Applications were open from 5 March – 2 April 2026 |
|
Mobility of Collections |
Supports greater regional and local access to material held in the National Collections. The scheme is designed to fund the transport, cost of insurance, and exhibiting costs for pieces from the National Collections to appropriate institutions around the country. |
Details on the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/2026-mobility-of-collections-scheme/ |
Applications were open from 5 March – 2 April 2026 |
|
Regional Museums Exhibition Scheme |
Supports local, regional and specialised museums, to promote and enhance these institutions through the provision of funding for capital exhibition costs. |
Details on the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/regional-museum-exhibitions-scheme-2026/ |
Applications were open from 5 March – 2 April 2026 |
|
Culture Ireland Regular Grant Rounds |
Grant funding is available from Culture Ireland for Irish professional artists, arts organisations and international presenters towards costs which relate directly to the international presentation of an event. |
Details of the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.cultureireland.ie/funding/regular-grant/ |
Ongoing throughout 2026 |
|
Culture Ireland Showcase Scheme |
Supports Irish artists to participate at industry showcase events, facilitating artists to present their work to international delegates, including programmers and presenters. Scheme also supports artists to attend international showcase events as delegates. |
Applications to form part of the Culture Ireland delegations may be made by open call and must be made online via the application portal. Further details of the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.cultureireland.ie/funding/showcase/ |
Ongoing throughout 2026 |
|
Culture Ireland See Here Scheme |
Supports direct engagement by international promoters and programmers with Irish artists’ work in Ireland with a view to securing future presentation opportunities abroad. |
Culture Ireland support under this scheme usually involves travel by international delegates to attend festivals where there is a programme of Irish artists being presented and meet artists in person in Ireland. Applications may be made by open call and must be made online via the application portal. Further details of the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.cultureireland.ie/funding/see-here/ |
Ongoing throughout 2026 |
|
Ireland’s EU Presidency Culture Programme 2026 – Irish Language Stream |
Aims to showcase the richness and diversity of Irish creativity through the Irish language in a wide range of artistic disciplines in prominent venues, institutions, and festivals as part of the cultural programme marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It provides grant funding to professional artists and companies and international presenters to support costs directly related to the international presentation of events, including travel, transport, accommodation, and subsistence. |
This scheme is now closed, however details of the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.cultureireland.ie/irelands-eu-presidency-culture-programme-2026-irish-language-stream-call-for-expressions-of-interest/ |
Applications closed 17 April 2026 |
|
Ireland’s EU Presidency Culture Programme 2026 – International Stream |
Aims to showcase the richness and diversity of Irish creativity through a wide range of artistic disciplines in prominent venues, institutions, and festivals as part of the cultural programme marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It provides grant funding to support costs directly related to the international presentation of events, including travel, transport, accommodation, and subsistence. |
Details of the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.cultureireland.ie/irelands-eu-presidency-culture-programme-2026-call-for-expressions-of-interest/ Applications accepted from the artist/arts organisation or international presenting partner.
|
Applications closed 10 February 2026. Additional proposals may be considered on a rolling basis, subject to available funding. |
|
Grassroots Venue Support Scheme 2026 |
The scheme is designed to support small independent live grassroots performance venues. The aim is to support small/medium grassroots music venues in acknowledgement of the risk they take in programming and nurturing emerging original Irish artists. |
Scheme was open to venues with a capacity of 500 or less, who are known in the community as a live music venue or comedy venue, with grassroots music or comedy forming a core part of its programming. Applications were submitted online through submit.com and further details of the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/the-night-time-economy-grassroots-venue-support-scheme-2026/ |
Applications were open from 6 March – 30 March 2026. |
|
After Hours at the Museum Scheme 2026 |
Aims to support and promote later openings in museums and galleries around the country. |
Applicants must be a member of the Irish Museum Association and/or a member of the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland or a member of the Contemporary Art Gallery Association. Applications are submitted online through submit.com. Applications were assessed by eligibility requirements and quality of their proposal. Further details of the eligibility criteria and application process are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/night-time-economy-after-hours-at-the-museum-scheme-2026/ |
Applications were open from 9 April - 7 May 2026. |
|
Cruinniú na nÓg |
Cruinniú na nÓg is delivered through the network of Local Authority Culture and Creativity Teams in each of the 31 Local Authorities. It is a national day of free creativity for children and young people up to the age of 18. |
An annual allocation is made available to each local authority to deliver an annual programme of events and initiatives during Cruinniú na nÓg representing an investment of €1.3 million. An additional €150,000 is provided to three Strategic Partners to complement local programming. Further details are available at www.cruinniu.gov.ie/ |
N/A (Cruinniú na nÓg 2026 took place on 6 June) |
|
Creative Communities |
Creative Communities supports the partnership between the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Local Authorities to deliver Culture and Creativity Strategies (2023-2027). |
In each of the 31 local authorities, the Creative Ireland Programme has established a Culture and Creativity Team which brings together local expertise in arts, heritage, libraries, enterprise and community engagement, to foster collaboration and spark new initiatives. A local Creative Ireland Programme Co-ordinator and a Creative Communities Engagement Officer has been appointed for each local authority. In 2026 an investment of €3.8 million continues to embed creativity in public policy. Further details are available at the following link: www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/creative-communities/ |
N/A |
|
Community Sport Facilities Fund |
Provide grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. |
A new round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund will open for applications shortly. Guidelines will be published in advance of the opening which will include eligibility and likely assessment criteria for the next round. Further details are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/collections/sports-capital-programme-allocations/ |
To be confirmed |
|
Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund |
Provide capital funding for larger capital sporting projects. |
While this programme is aimed primarily at the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities it was also open to other bodies, philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations to apply but such applications would necessarily have to be made and prioritised by a Local Authority and/or a National Governing Bodies of Sport. Further details are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/campaigns/large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/ |
N/A |
