Written Answers Nos. 300-306
300. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the replacement scheme for the basic income for artists will both open for applications and commence; whether there will be any restrictions on existing participants in applying again; and to provide detail about the operation of the new scheme. [67326/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was delighted to have secured an allocation for a successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot as part of Budget 2026. While the detail of the future scheme will need to be agreed by Government, this is a major milestone for the arts in Ireland and I am particularly pleased that the research my Department conducted provided Government with a clear evidence base upon which to make that decision.
Eligibility criteria and parameters for a successor scheme have not been finalised. The cost of the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme was €35m for a full calendar year for 2,000 artists to participate, with each recipient receiving €325 a week. There were over 8,200 eligible applicants to the pilot scheme in 2022. To have funded all those eligible would have cost approximately €139m per year.
With an allocation of €18.27m in my Department’s 2026 Estimate, I look forward to the design and delivery of the successor scheme next year.
I can confirm that the BIA pilot scheme will end in February 2026, which is when the final pilot payment will be made to the current cohort of recipients. While eligibility is not yet finalised, a new cohort of recipients will be selected based on eligible applications for the successor scheme.
The research has consistently demonstrated both the positive impact the BIA has had for those in receipt of it and how difficult it is to work as an artist in Ireland given the income precarity prevalent in the sector. The BIA successor scheme will help to sustain the careers of those artists who will receive it and retain their talent in the arts sector.
Stakeholder consultation and engagement with other relevant Government Departments on the design of the new scheme is ongoing to determine details such as the duration, eligibility and selection method, the details of which have not yet been decided. Once the parameters of the scheme have been agreed by Cabinet I intend to publish them.
301. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to review a matter (details supplied); to ensure a fair operating platform for all business in Kerry; and that they would not be at a disadvantage due to a lack of high speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67377/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.
The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future published in January 2025 sets a number of targets which include the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by 2026.
The premises in question is in the BLUE area on the broadband map which is available on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/.
The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services.
The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. Per information available at https://bbchecker.comreg.ie/, the premises in question is currently capable of receiving High-Speed Broadband with speeds of 68 Mbps from open eir’s local High Speed Broadband cabinet.
The premises is also included in open eir’s Full Fibre to the Home (FTTH) deployment programme per information available at www.openeir.ie/fibre/broadband-checker. The Department does not have sight of information that provides an estimated timeline of when open eir will provide a full fibre connection to this premises. However, my officials have contacted open eir to enquire about the expected timeframe for connecting this premises to their fibre network.
302. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme can fund the purchase of land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67442/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAvailability and ease of access to sports facilities, whether in a club setting, on public lands or in other amenity areas, is a key factor in drawing more people to participation in sport. Planning for future facilities’ needs, locations and types is a particular focus of our current Sports Action Plan.
However, the use to which lands are put is ultimately a matter for the relevant local authority and my Department does not fund the acquisition of land for sport. However, where land is in use for sport, my Department operates two relevant capital funding programmes, namely the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). In 2024 over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to community sports clubs and facilities from the CSFF while grants totalling €173 million were awarded from the LSSIF. This is a an all-time record investment level in sport in Ireland.
303. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if reliable fast fibre broadband will be provided in Listowel town (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67443/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.
Listowel is predominantly within the BLUE area on the broadband map which is available on my Department’s website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/. The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services.
As per information available at www.openeir.ie/fibre/broadband-checkert, Listowel is included in open eir’s Full Fibre to the Home (FTTH) deployment programme and 89% of premises in Listowel are currently fibre enabled. The Department does not have sight of information that provides an estimated timeline of when open eir will provide a full fibre connection to the remaining 11% of premises in Listowel, however, my officials have contacted open eir to enquire about the expected timeframe, when this information is provided we will update the deputy accordingly. It should be noted that those premises not currently served by a fibre connection currently have access to High-Speed Broadband (HSBB). The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload.
Premises located in the AMBER area on the broadband map are to be served by the network deployed under the NBP State led intervention. I have been advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that in the deputy’s home county of Kerry, over 22,830 premises are now passed by NBI’s high-speed fibre broadband network and 23,850 premises are available to order/pre-order, with 6,395 premises now connected. A further circa 5,170 premises in County Kerry will be passed by NBI’s high speed fibre broadband by the end of network deployment.
Further details available on specific areas within County Kerry can be monitored via https://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 Kerry based on NBI deployment areas rather than exact county boundaries.
304. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the type of training provided to staff within his Department in the use of, or understanding of artificial intelligence; if a programme is planned for all staff on their obligations under the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67458/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recognises the important role that Artificial Intelligence will have on the work we do, and the policies and services we deliver.
My Department provides a central learning and development hub via OneLearning and all staff are encouraged to undertake the training available on this digital platform. My Department has promoted self-directed training programmes, such as AI in the Public Serviceand Navigating the Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service.
The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) are responsible for the OneLearning platform and the development of courses available on it. In addition, requests for further training or conferences in AI are considered when there is a business case provided to support the request.
305. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress Ireland has made in becoming part of the eIDAS programme in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67487/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe eIDAS regulation (EU 2024/1183) requires every member state to introduce a secure digital identity framework provided through a digital wallet for use by its citizens by December 2026. The wallet will be voluntary for citizens to use. The regulation also requires the designation of a supervisory body for trust services and a supervisory body for the wallet provider and discussions are progressing on these designations. There is ongoing constructive engagement at European level through the EU Digital Identity Cooperation Group and other forums to exchange information with other member states who are in a position to assist with or support elements of the eIDAS framework implementation in Ireland. Relevant officials are also regularly participating in EU comitology meetings where a range of implementing acts such as setting standards for various trust services are being negotiated and agreed.
My Department chairs a cross-departmental Steering Group to assess the best method of giving full effect to the eIDAS Regulation. The Steering Group includes the Department for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation who have overall policy responsibility for public services transformation, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer who are responsible for the technical architecture to build the Government’s digital wallet and the Department of Social Protection who are responsible for MyGovID.
306. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he intends to provide capital funding to long established arts centres that require capital works and structural repairs to their buildings or to improve accessibility or improve amenities for patrons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67667/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in the Programme for Government, the Government believes that culture and the arts are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement.
A network of cultural infrastructure exists throughout the country, with the majority in the ownership of local authorities. Annual support, including programming and revenue supports, is provided to this arts and culture infrastructure by local authorities and the Arts Council. My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist development and to maintain these arts and cultural facilities.
Cultural capital funding available at present in my Department includes Stream E of the Cultural Capital Scheme, where grants of up to €20,000 are available to not-for-profit dedicated arts and culture organisations at 85% grant funding rate. Larger grants of up to €50,000 are provided under Stream E at a maximum grant funding rate of 70%. Local authority owned facilities are subject to a maximum 60% grant funding rate.
This is a rolling scheme that is demand led and full details are available on my Department’s website.
Another cultural capital funding scheme available from my Department is the €6 million pilot Artist Workspaces Scheme which was launched in June 2024. Under this scheme, local authorities are invited to propose projects which enable them to provide additional artist workspaces in their regions on a sustainable basis and produce workspaces that are fit for purpose, design focused, and accessible. Funding of up to €300,000 is available for densely populated local authority areas and €150,000 for other local authorities.
As the Deputy may be aware, in Budget 2026 my Department was allocated €6m for a new programme of capital funding for arts and culture organisations across the country, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. This will see much needed capital supports for communities, including funding essential equipment for organisations such as amateur drama groups and musical societies.
My Department is in the process of designing the specifications of the scheme, including the setting of eligibility criteria. This will need the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation before it is formally launched.
