Emer Currie
Ceist:252. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his plans to increase funding for high-performance coaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53474/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSports Funding
Ceisteanna (252)
Freagraí scríofa
Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. It also has responsibility for the allocation of funding across its various programmes, including the high performance programme.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to this matter. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
National Broadband Plan
Ceisteanna (253)
Emer Currie
Ceist:253. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the progress of the national broadband plan in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53475/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have been advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that over 8,960 premises are now passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and are available to order/pre-order in County Dublin, with over 2,290 premises now connected.
A further circa 4,000 premises in County Dublin will be passed by NBI’s high speed fibre broadband by the end of network deployment. Premises in the Dunshaughlin Deployment Area (D.A) and the Donabate / Portrane D.A. are currently in the network build phase. These premises have an anticipated date for connection between October 2025 to December 2025 and January 2026 to March 2026 respectively.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Dublin which can be monitored via nbi.ie/reps. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries. It should be noted that NBI provide this information for County Dublin based on NBI deployment areas rather than exact county boundaries.
National Broadband Plan
Ceisteanna (254)
Emer Currie
Ceist:254. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if any additional capital funding will be needed for the national broadband plan beyond the additional €80 million of funding issued in February 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53476/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The approved budget for delivering the National Broadband Plan (NPB) is €2.7bn over its 25 year term, with €400m allocated to the plan as part of the 2025 budget, and no additional capital funding is envisaged to complete the plan.
A shortfall may emerge this year as a result of the accelerated deployment of gigabit broadband services across the State. I should emphasize that any additional funding required for 2025 would not represent an increase to the already approved capital budget for the NBP project, but rather a reprofiling of the project's budget from later years to this year, so as to support the accelerated delivery of the plan. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in relation to addressing any shortfall this year.
Emergency Planning
Ceisteanna (255)
Emer Currie
Ceist:255. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide an update on the roll-out of the new public warning text system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53480/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In November 2023, Ireland put in place an SMS-based emergency public warning system, via S.I 583 of 2023, as required under Article 110 of the EU Electronic Communications Code Directive. This system enables mobile phone operators to send texts to the public on behalf of the Government during an emergency.
Last year, my Department engaged the services of an Analysys Mason led advisory team to provide technical advice for the procurement of a cell broadcast public warning system that will replace the current SMS system. This new system will allow for localised alerting based on network mast location and is not impacted by network capacity, congestion or SMS character limits. Officials in my Department are working with a number of stakeholders, in particular the Department of Defence, on this project. Pending Government decision, it is intended that procurement of the new system will begin in 2025.
Artists' Remuneration
Ceisteanna (256, 257)
Emer Currie
Ceist:256. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when a decision is expected on plans to extend the basic income for artists scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53481/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEmer Currie
Ceist:257. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for a breakdown of the cost to date of running the basic income for artists scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53482/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together.
The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I announced an extension of six months to February 2026 to allow for further assessment of the pilot data and to engage in stakeholder consultation to provide an evidence base for Government to make decisions on next steps.
Consultation is ongoing including a Consultative Committee which draws from across Government. I launched an online public consultation which closed on 5 September, over 17,000 submissions received, of which 97% were in favour of BIA being continued. A sectoral stakeholder forum also took place on 10 September with around 200 attendees from both resource organisations and artists represented.
The cost of Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme is €35m for a full calendar year for 2,000 artists to participate, with each recipient receiving €325 a week for the duration of the scheme. The cost of the 6-month extension is €16.7m to February 2026.
The outturn each year has been as follows (to nearest €,000):
|
Year |
€ Amount |
|
2022 |
€11,373,000 |
|
2023 |
€34,508,000 |
|
2024 |
€34,344,000 |
|
2025 to-date |
€25,962,000 |
The total expenditure varies due to natural attrition of participants and as administration and other costs fluctuate e.g. external research costs. There are currently 1962 participants on the scheme.
I recently published the findings of an independent cost-benefit analysis (CBA) paper. It shows that the BIA produced over €100m in social and economic benefits. For every €1 invested in the pilot society received a return of €1.39. It also finds that recipients’ arts-related income increased by over €500 per month on average. Audience engagement with the arts generated an estimated €16.9 million in social value over the three pilot years.
The CBA finds the real net fiscal cost of the BIA pilot to be just under €72m over the three years compared with the gross cost of €105m, due to returns in the form of tax revenues of €36m and €6.5m savings in social protection payments.
I intend to bring forward proposals for a permanent intervention after Budget 2026 discussions, subject to funding being made available.
Question No. 257 answered with Question No. 256.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (258)
Emer Currie
Ceist:258. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on progress made to date and the plans for the future for the expansion of the night-time economy action plan for Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53483/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is supporting the delivery of the Dublin City Night-Time Economy action plan primarily through the funding of a two-year, full-time Night-Time Advisor post. This post is part of a national network of 9 advisors (Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny, Sligo, Longford, Buncrana and Drogheda) and each is tasked with delivering and Night-Time Economy action plan for their location. This year I approved the funding for all 9 Night-Time Advisor posts until September 2026.
In addition, my Department has also provided just over €272k in seed funding to date, towards the roll out of Dublin's action plan including support for initiatives such as Culture Night Late, Brigit Late, St Patrick’s Festival After Dark, Comedy Culture in the Capital and a safety campaign which includes free online vulnerability and safeguard training for venues and businesses at night. With funding support from the Department of Justice, Dublin City Council also launched the ‘Nee-Naw’ van this year. This safety initiative was developed by the Night-Time Advisor to provide support to people who may need help on a night out and forms part of the Dublin Night Time Economy strategy.
The Night-Time Economy Advisor pilots are a significant project within the Night-Time Economy policy area, both in Dublin and across the country.
Following a competitive tendering process in 2024, Communiqué International were appointed to conduct a review of the 9 Night-Time Economy pilots, to look critically at the structures involved in supporting the Advisors, the visibility and impact of each in their respective areas, and make recommendations about the future roll-out of this initiative.
This review of the pilots has now concluded and we are currently undertaking a consultation exercise with the County and City Management Association and the wider Night-Time Economy Implementation Group in relation to these recommendation.
We will continue to collaborate with Dublin City Council in relation to the development of an energised Night-Time Economy across the capital.
Arts Council
Ceisteanna (259)
Emer Currie
Ceist:259. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the grants available through the Arts Council; the overall cost of these grants for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53485/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland and Budget 2025 provided funding of €140 million for the Arts Council. The Arts Council invests in artists, organisations and arts infrastructure through competitive funding schemes and their funding supports artists and organisations.
I have asked the Arts Council to make direct contact and provide the Deputy with the information requested in relation to the grants available through the Council and the overall cost of these grants for 2024. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from the Council within the next ten working days.
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (260)
Emer Currie
Ceist:260. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of grants and the cost of these grants under the latest stream of the cultural capital scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53486/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Stream E of the Cultural Capital Scheme was originally launched on 14 June 2023 with a budget of €1.4m. The scheme focuses on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country. In line with the Government's action on climate change, this scheme also welcomes projects that reduce an organisation's carbon footprint as well as projects that provide additional capacity for artistic production.
Under this scheme, grants of up to €20,000 are available to not-for-profit dedicated arts and culture organisations at 85% grant funding rate. Local authority owned facilities are subject to a maximum 60% grant funding rate.
Larger grants of up to €50,000 are provided under Stream E at a maximum grant funding rate of 70%, or 60% for local authority owned facilities. Full details are available on my Department’s website.
The total funding awarded under this scheme to date is €996,876 benefiting 32 arts and culture organisations across the country.
Commemorative Events
Ceisteanna (261)
Eoghan Kenny
Ceist:261. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if there will be a fund for commemorative events celebrating the history of cultural institutions over the next few years as many institutions celebrate significant milestones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53555/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The supportive structure that the State has adopted to commemorations was developed during the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023. Due to the significant interest from stakeholders, supports are still in place through the Commemorations Unit of my Department for those who wish to remember significant historical event and themes. This includes financial supports but also a commemorative framework built on key principles to ensure appropriate remembrance.
Each year a funding allocation has been provided from my Department to local authorities to develop community-led commemorative programming. In the first instance, local communities that want to take part should contact their local authority.
Public bodies, sectoral stakeholders, third level institutions, and other organisations can bring forward proposals for commemorative events or programmes directly to my Department.
The National Cultural Institutions and my Department work in close collaboration and have established successful working relationships that have seen the delivery of numerous significant commemorative initiatives. This includes the major international exhibition Self-Determination: A Global Perspective in IMMA, Building as Witness in the Crawford Art Gallery, the From Ballots to Bullets exhibition in the National Library of Ireland and From British Rule to the Irish Free State: The Barracks Handover exhibition in the National Museum of Ireland.
We look forward to continuing this positive and productive partnership between my Department and our National Cultural Institutions for the years to come and the significant milestones that our NCIs may wish to mark.
Departmental Contracts
Ceisteanna (262)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:262. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding any product or service that has been acquired or purchased by his Department from Australia, in the past three years. [53613/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It should be noted that my Department was re-configured as the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport at the beginning of June 2025. The details sought by the Deputy in relation to products or services acquired or purchased from Australia in the past 3 years for the current functions under the remit of my Department are set out below.
|
Year |
Provider |
Description |
|
2023 |
DB Consulting Group Pty Ltd |
Assurance work carried out on budgeting for EURO 2028 |
|
2023 |
LiquidFiles |
License for on-premise file transfer server |
|
2024 |
LiquidFiles |
License for on-premise file transfer server |
Sports Funding
Ceisteanna (263)
Eoghan Kenny
Ceist:263. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on a project (details supplied) as of October 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53770/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was established under the National Sports Policy, published on 25 July 2018, to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme).
Grants totalling €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects were allocated under the second round of the LSSIF in November 2024. With this announcement, the cumulative investment from the LSSIF since 2020 now reaches €297 million.
Cork County Council made an application for funding under LSSIF 2024 in order to develop the project referred to in the question. They were successful in their application and were awarded €2 million in funding.
All new public investment proposals must comply with the Infrastructure Guidelines published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The project is currently progressing through the first gateway as required under the Guidelines. Once the project has cleared all approval gates the Department will proceed to contract stage and the project can proceed.
Artists' Remuneration
Ceisteanna (264)
Barry Heneghan
Ceist:264. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the plans to ensure the basic income for the arts scheme is made permanent and expanded beyond the current pilot programme, given the evidence from the recent evaluation that the scheme improves productivity, reduces financial insecurity, enhances well-being and increases community engagement for artists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53839/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact, which is why I announced an extension of six months to February 2026 to allow for further assessment of the pilot data and to engage in stakeholder consultation to provide the evidence base for Government to make decisions on the next steps.
I have begun to undertake consultations. This has included the convening of a Consultative Committee which draws from across Government and online public consultation closed on 5 September with over 17,000 submissions received 97% of which were in favour of BIA being continued. A sectoral stakeholder forum also took place on 10 September with around 200 artists and arts representative organisations.
The pilot is underpinned by a comprehensive research programme. I recently published a report examining the first 24 months of the scheme which found that BIA recipients, compared to those not in receipt of the BIA:
- are 6 percentage points more likely to have worked in the arts
- spend on average 11 weekly hours more on their creative practice
- are 14 percentage points more likely to have completed new works in the previous six months
- invest more financially in their practice
- are better able to afford basic necessities and have higher life satisfaction
- are 15 percentage points less likely to have felt downhearted or depressed
- are 16 percentage points less likely to have experienced anxiety
A cost-benefit analysis paper has also just been published. It shows that the BIA produced over €100m in social and economic benefits and for every €1 invested in the pilot society received a return of €1.39. It also finds that recipients’ arts-related income increased by over €500 per month on average. Audience engagement with the arts generated an estimated €16.9 million in social value over the three pilot years.
A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme to the pilot, and I intend to bring forward proposals for a permanent intervention following Budget 2026, assuming funding for a successor is secured, but I have made it clear that I am in favour of a permanent scheme being put in place.