Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
451. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport what budget was allocated to Ireland’s EU Presidency Conference on Online Safety for Children and Young People in Dublin Castle on the 10th and 11th of September organised by the Department as part of Ireland's EU presidency. [68148/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra452. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the budget that was allocated to the EU Presidency Conference on Traditional Sports and Games held on the 22 September 2026. [68158/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together.
The Revised Estimates Volume 2026 provided an allocation of €4m for the EU Presidency costs for my Department as well as an additional €4m allocation through Culture Ireland to support the development and roll-out of the Presidency Culture Programme across a number of strands both at home and abroad.
The REV allocation will support the 10 key events in Ireland which my Department is responsible for during the Presidency across the culture, media, telecommunications, postal and sporting areas. These include conferences, senior official level meetings, and an Informal Ministerial level meeting.
The Irish Presidency Conference on Online Safety for Children and Young People "Shaping the future online safety framework for children and young people in the EU" which was held in Dublin Castle on the 10th and 11th of September was attended by key parties, including Ministers and representatives from EU Member States, involved in online safety across Europe. They came together to listen to the results of expert data and analysis, discuss and reflect on the online experience of children and young people and the risks to their safety online, and to consider the next steps needed to shape the future online safety framework for children and young people across the EU. It was attended by approximately 250 people over the two days of the conference, and it was an important event in the Presidency calendar.
The EU Presidency Conference on Traditional Sports and Games took place on the 22nd of September in Croke Park. Approximately 200 stakeholders from across Ireland and Europe gathered together to discuss issues of common interest to all sports. Speakers came from across Europe to discuss issues such as growing sports participation, changing demographics and their effects on sports and the role of sports as cultural heritage.
The Department, worked together with the OPW and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that any proposed expenditure in relation to the above events was monitored carefully and appropriately managed. Suppliers for catering, accommodation and transport were drawn from framework agreements in place for the EU Presidency where applicable and other costs were estimated in line with the relevant procurement guidance as appropriate. We have yet to receive the final invoices for the services provided at the two events. It should also be noted that the Department has been awarded separate grants from the European Commission to cover some of the costs associated with these two events.
In addition to covering costs of EU Presidency conferences and meetings, the REV allocation will support Presidency outreach and engagement activities along with other associated staffing costs.
