Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 September 2024
47. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media whether or not compliance with employment law, as part of public procurement guidelines, was a condition required to receive grants from her Department such as the live performance support scheme or LPGRS; and the procedure, if any, that was in place to assess compliance in order to ensure such a condition was met. [38051/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra48. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of recipients of the live performance support scheme, the music and entertainment business assistance scheme, the local live performance programming scheme, and the live performance restart grant scheme, were asked for and/or provided the proof of payment to artists and crews upon which payment was contingent (details supplied); the number of applicants for these grant schemes who were rejected for failure to provide this proof of payment; and the total number of artists and crew workers who benefited as a result. [38052/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.
The suite of supports for the live entertainment sector delivered by my Department during the pandemic sustained employment opportunities and well-being and protected the sector’s future viability, supporting over 100,000 days of employment during the pandemic.
Details of the guidelines, terms and conditions and recipients of grant offers for the Pilot Live Performance Support Scheme, Live Performance Support Scheme 2021, Live Performance Support Scheme Phase 3 and Live Performance Scheme - Strand 2 and the Live Performance Restart Grant are published on my Department's website.
The Music and Entertainment Scheme, delivered over three phases in 2021 and 2022 offered over 1600 grants as a contribution to the overheads of businesses in the entertainment sector that had been significantly affected by COVID-19 and did qualify for other business supports.
All 31 local authorities were awarded grants through the Local Live Performance Scheme which supported activity and at a local level and provided employment opportunities for performers and crews. These grants were administered by the local authorities.
The payment of grants for all schemes was contingent upon compliance with the published criteria, terms and conditions. All grantees were required to provide proof of payment to ensure that artists and crews were remunerated and that the grant awarded had been used for the purpose intended. All grantees had to declare that they were in full compliance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
