Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Micheál Carrigy.

This meeting has been convened to consider the 2026 Revised Estimate for public services for Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport, which stands referred to this committee by Dáil Éireann. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, and his officials to the meeting. As this is a select committee to consider the Estimates and the Minister of State is present, unfortunately, the officials cannot speak. Those are the rules; I did not create them.

Deputy McConalogue is the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, but this matter has been delegated to him by the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, and it covers the whole Department, not just sport. It is unfortunate that the Minister is not available. We have made two attempts to facilitate this meeting, and both were unsuccessful. In my time here, it has never happened before that the senior Minister did not take the Estimates. That is unfortunate, particularly the first cancellation. In fairness, the Minister contacted me this week in relation to the second cancellation. For the duration of this Dáil and this committee, I would prefer that this did not happen again. I hope that is noted.

I wish to advise that the opening statements and any other documents submitted to the committee may be published on the committee website after this meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The format of the meeting will be as follows. We will have the opening statement from the Minister of State, which will then be followed by questions from members on the basis of the speaking rota circulated. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before we proceed to the opening statements, I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside of the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, to make his opening statement.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Revised Estimate for the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport under Vote 33 illustrates the broad scope of the work the Department does across a number of sectors. These sectors play a key role in our economic and social development, along with our well-being as a nation. The Department has a large sphere of influence, whether through supporting sporting and arts organisations at a local level, facilitating balanced economic and social development through the national broadband plan, or working with colleagues across the EU in facing some of the challenges thrown up by the online world.

Overall, the 2026 Revised Estimate for the Department is just over €1.55 billion across the four programme areas. Over €402 million has been allocated for arts and culture in 2026. This will allow us to build on the real progress that has been made in recent years in public investment in the arts. Funding of €18.3 million was secured this year in respect of basic income for the arts. The Government has now signed off on a successor scheme to the successful pilot that has run over the past three years. This is a major milestone for the arts in Ireland and how we support the arts. The research carried out by the Department provided the Government with a clear evidence base upon which to make that decision. Ireland is a global leader in the area of artist supports because of the basic income scheme. The new scheme will open for applications in the coming weeks. These will be assessed over the summer, with payment to selected artists beginning before the end of 2026.

Artists and arts organisations will also continue to be supported through the Arts Council, with a slight increase in funding to over €140 million this year. As the committee will be aware, the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, recently brought the Independent Review of Governance and Organisational Culture of the Arts Council of Ireland to the Government and published it thereafter. This independent review was conducted by an expert advisory committee chaired by Professor Niamh Brennan, following the well-documented failure of an IT project at the Arts Council. The review is substantive and contains 149 recommendations. The recommendations, which are addressed to the Department and the Arts Council, will be fully implemented to ensure that the failings which led to the significant loss of public moneys do not happen again. The Department is engaging with the interim director and the chair of the Arts Council to ensure that the organisation is supported during this interim period, ahead of what will be a period of significant change. This will be important for the wider arts sector.

Regarding our national cultural institutions, as well as increased day-to-day funding for the institutions, it is pleasing to see the progress being made on the national cultural institutions investment programme, which is future-proofing these iconic buildings for the generations to come. There is almost €45 million allocated to cultural infrastructure and development in 2026. This will allow for the completion of the National Archives repository project this year, as well as funding works on the Crawford Art Gallery redevelopment project and the Discover Centre at the National Concert Hall.

For the screen industry, we are providing €43.4 million to Screen Ireland to support its work in making Ireland a competitive destination for major international motion pictures, as well as progressing the development of a new strategy to grow the gaming sector in Ireland.

These Estimates provide over €484 million for the communications programme. The vast majority of this, €433 million, is capital funding for the national broadband plan. This year will see the practical completion of the deployment phase of the plan. As of the end of January 2026, over 451,000 premises had been passed, representing 80% of the total intervention area. By the end of 2026, National Broadband Ireland expects to have passed 550,000 premises. Over 4,500 new connections are being completed monthly and over 164,500 premises were connected by the end of January 2026. This is a success story that is having a real impact in connecting communities and local businesses and it shows we can get things done.

Turning to postal policy, a key element of the Estimates this year relates to the increased funding for the post office network, of €15 million per annum, up from €10 million. The funding aims to support the stability and sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. It will also support community access to the key social benefits of the post office network and help people to access services, both State and commercial, effectively and equitably.

The 2026 allocation for the broadcasting and media programme is over €362 million. This will continue to promote the provision of high-quality public service programming and public-interest journalism.

TG4's public funding for 2026 is just over €65 million, which will enable increased investment in the commissioning of high-quality Irish language content, from children's programmes to documentaries, film and drama. The increased funding this year will also enable TG4 to develop a digital news service to better serve the needs of Irish speakers across the country. In line with the 2024 Government agreement, RTÉ will receive €240 million in public funding to continue to implement its new strategy and serve Irish audiences. This is primarily funded by licence fee receipts. The importance of public service broadcasting has arguably never been greater, and it is vital that the public have confidence that it is delivered in an efficient and transparent manner.

Additional funding of over €9 million is provided to support our independent media sector, help to protect a free and pluralistic media sector and combat the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation. The additional moneys will provide increased resources for the media funding schemes administered by Coimisiún na Meán. This will support public-interest journalism, and the provision of public service content by media outlets at local, regional and national levels will help to ensure that our media continue to support public engagement and democratic discourse. In addition, funding will be provided for the implementation of the national counter disinformation strategy as well as a new shared island media fund.

There is a significant increase in funding for sport this year, to over €301 million. This will allow us to maintain a high level of capital investment in sports facilities right across the country via both the large-scale sport infrastructure fund and the community sport facilities fund. We will also open a new round of the community sport facilities fund this year.

Funding is also being provided to Sport Ireland for the national velodrome and badminton centre, which is being built on the Sport Ireland Campus, where we will also commence work on a new national cricket centre this year. We will also continue to plan for the hosting of major sports events such as the Ryder Cup and Euro 2028.

Overall, Sport Ireland will receive over €154 million in 2026, which also includes an €11 million increase in current funding. The increased current funding provision for Sport Ireland will support a number of initiatives, including League of Ireland football academies and investment in a grassroots golf participation programme, and also see additional funding for the IRFU, GAA and Gaelic Players Association.

Within the Estimates for the Department this year, there is also a provision of €8 million for the EU Presidency, which Ireland will hold from 1 July to 31 December this year. This will be an important opportunity for Ireland to lead and shape the European agenda, and we are committed to supporting the whole-of-government effort to deliver a successful Presidency. In the Department, we will be leading negotiations in a number of policy areas across our remit, including online safety for children, key files in the telecommunications area and a range of cultural policy initiatives, and highlighting our sporting heritage.

The Department is also responsible for leading and developing the Presidency culture programme across a number of strands, both at home and abroad, and we are working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of the Taoiseach, the national cultural institutions, agencies and bodies in the arts and culture sector to ensure the offering is high quality, memorable and in line with overall Presidency themes.

I look forward to our discussion on these Estimates this afternoon. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the other committee members.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his statement and for facilitating us today.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and his officials for attending. It is important to put on record our appreciation of their work in a very broad-ranging Department. We have seen significant progress on investment in a number of areas, as the Minister of State has outlined. I welcome in particular the extension of the basic income for the arts scheme, which is crucial, the investment in the national cultural institutions and the record investments we are seeing in sport.

I will talk first about the proposed arts capital programme, which, as the Minister of State knows, has been planned as part of a commitment within the programme for Government. We have seen the success of investment in sport. There is a very clear commitment in this regard. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, has committed, in the development of the arts capital programme, that we should see the same level of investment in community arts and culture facilities and organisations as we see in our sports infrastructure. As the Minister of State will be aware, in my constituency I am quite involved with Gorey Little Theatre. Wexford has places like Kilmuckridge Memorial Hall and Wicklow has places like St. Brigid's Hall in Carnew and the Courthouse Arts Centre in Tinahely. Arklow is arguably the largest town in the country without a theatre or arts space. I would like the Minister of State to provide an update on when the funding in the arts capital programme might be announced and the types of organisations that will be able to apply for it.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Byrne. I am aware that he is a long-standing supporter of arts funding. In budget 2026, the Department allocated €6 million for a new programme of capital funding for arts and cultural organisations across the country in line with the programme for Government commitment, which the Deputy was very supportive of. We are in the process of designing the specifications of the scheme and setting the eligibility criteria. Approval by the Department of public expenditure will be needed before the programme is formally launched, but it is the intention to launch it over the course of this year. We have €6 million allocated for this year and the Deputy will have a few ideas for it.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I recognise it is a pilot programme but the Minister of State will appreciate that a sum of €6 million is very small by comparison with the record €250 million in the last round of sports capital, which I strongly support. I hope the Department will consider expanding the programme. Given our arts and cultural infrastructure, it is critical that we launch the programme as soon as possible.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are nearing the end of March, so it is expected to have an announcement on the terms of the scheme shortly. Once it is published, there will have to be an application process. Applications will have to be submitted and selected, so there will not be a massive window this year for drawing down funding. Therefore, €6 million will in the round be a reasonably strong allocation for this year.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Can I ask about something that the Minister has committed to and that has been highlighted in respect of funding for amateur theatre and musical organisations? Grants have been made to the national organisations in the past. The Minister has indicated that he is in favour of funding. After participation in the GAA, the highest level of participation in any activity in the country is in amateur drama and musicals. People know of the involvement right around the country. The Minister is committed to considering funding for the national organisations. I am just wondering whether there is anything specific in the budget allocation in that regard.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There has been engagement with the Arts Council on that. It has indicated that it is open to considering applications along those lines. The Department will monitor with the Arts Council how the distribution of funding is working.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Would it be fair to say that if the national representative bodies operating within the amateur drama and musicals sector were to make a formal application to the Arts Council in light of the increase in funding made available to the council through the Estimates, it would be received favourably?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We will certainly be encouraging them to apply so the Arts Council can consider their applications, and then we will be monitoring closely how that evolves.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will take that as a qualified "Yes". I will put it this way: they will expect me to come back because I think a channel of funding needs to be found, and if it is not through the Arts Council, it should be directly through the Department.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is something the Arts Council realises it is going to be important to support.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State mentioned the community sports facilities fund, which is of enormous interest. I know of his very personal investment in that and the record sums involved. Do we have any idea yet of the overall size of the fund that will be allocated for this year? The Minister of State indicated that will happen before the summer. He talked of June. I am interested in hearing the opening and closing dates.

The Minister of State highlighted a couple of things specifically around co-operation between different sporting codes and support for those codes that do not have access to land. This is a big problem for minority sports but also in certain urban areas where organisations do not own their own premises.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In terms of the budget line for 2026, the budget is targeted towards the drawdown from the previous rounds. A total of €68 million has been profiled this year to be able to meet the expected demand in relation to that.

The objective is to have the new round opened over the summer and funding announcements made by the end of the year. What that round will be in terms of the envelope is something that will be agreed with the Department of public expenditure. We will engage closely on it with the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Jack Chambers. I will also engage on it with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, in the context of trying to build on the very significant increase in support we have seen over the last two or three rounds. If we go back to the 2018-19 round, the support was well over €70 million, whereas the last time it was €270 million.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I commend the Minister of State on that. How do we target the organisations that may not have access to the fund?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We want to do that incentivisation within the terms of the scheme as well. Currently, we are finalising the review of how it worked the last time around, and what the terms and conditions will be. We are looking to try to encourage clubs to collaborate on it. There is also a lot of potential across the country, for example, in how we can encourage schools and community organisations that might have land to collaborate with clubs. That is something we want to incentivise in the terms and conditions of the scheme as well.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

If I could ask the Minister of State specifically about that, would he envisage that the school would be the lead applicant or would it have to be a club, in partnership with a school?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It would be the club in partnership with the school. The schools will not be entitled to apply in their own right; they will have to partner with a club. That is something we are very much looking to encourage.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Obviously local authorities must be involved as well, in particular in relation to the identification of land and in terms of good planning and good zoning but also working with clubs to identify land. Where there are particular challenges, we ask local authorities to focus on those as well.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I turn to the multi-annual funding for RTÉ being provided through the Department. I am interested in looking at progress in terms of the conditions and whether the Department is satisfied with the conditions that were attached to the package of funding. Are they being met? How much of the funding has now been drawn down?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As one would expect, the Department is working and liaising very closely with RTÉ. We are near the year 3 agreement in terms of the level that has been drawn down so far. This year, there is €240 million in total funding from the licence fee. In terms of how the Department is liaising with RTÉ, there is good co-operation on making sure there is compliance with the agreement.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. There is the money from the licence fee, but I am also talking about the €750 million investment by the State, coming from the Department, to address the issue. How much of that has been drawn down by RTÉ? Is the Department satisfied that the conditions that were attached to that funding are being met?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In terms of the conditions being met, the Department is satisfied that RTÉ is engaging well. In relation to the multi-annual funding, it was a three-year agreement. There was €225 million last year, €240 million this year and €260 million next year. That is being met from the licence fee and is supplemented by Exchequer funding as well, as appropriate.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Have the amounts of €225 million and €240 million been paid already to RTÉ?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The €240 million will be paid over the course of this year. So far this year, €54 million from the Exchequer has been indicated. We are on profile in terms of the overall allocation for this year of €240 million.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the circumstances but I request that at some stage the Department provide us with a breakdown of how much of that is being drawn down in payments that have been made.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand the Chair's frustration that the Minister is not here, but I must put on record that my dealings with both the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, and the Department have been incredible. They have taken on every single issue and shown humanity in how to deal with an issue towards people who are not used to dealing with public officials. That has to be stressed. In my short career here, it is the one Department that has stood out head and shoulders above the others when questions were asked. I really appreciate that.

Some of my questions were touched on by the previous speaker. The Minister of State stressed that €6 million will be provided for arts capital funding. Are the criteria in place for that or when does he expect them to come out?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The criteria are being finalised. We expect them to come out shortly after Easter, and the applications will follow from that. We will have €6 million available in funding by the end of the year. Capital-type works are included as well. Next year we expect there to be a significant follow-through from this year's applications. The sum of €6 million is available for drawdown this year.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is it specifically focused on capital spending?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is not an awful lot one can do with it. I understand that the scheme is only coming in and that it will hopefully be expanded. It is almost a trial period to see how it goes. I am not quite sure what we can do with €6 million across the whole of Ireland because, as has been touched on, there are some towns and areas in the country that are not getting a fair crack of the whip due to a lack of representation or the fact that they might not have applied for funding. There are a lot of issues in that regard. We spoke earlier about Arklow, for example. It has no town park, community centre or entertainment venue. It is simply shocking when you walk into a town and see that level of amenities for a population of that size. To be fair, it also a matter of the council getting on board with others. It is crucial that the funding stream is there to help provide these facilities. If a survey were to be done of the major towns in Ireland, I wonder which others would be at such a low level. Going forward, I hope applications from those towns will be prioritised.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I take Deputy Brennan's point in relation to that. It is very unequal across different parts of the country. This is a recognition from the Government of the importance of investing in the arts and the dearth of capital funding too. This year, capital funding is €6 million. One of the challenges we will have is in publishing it in the next number of weeks, getting applications in and working hard to try to ensure the €6 million is utilised this year, and then looking to see where we are in the context of next year's budget.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I warmly welcome the basic income for the arts. It is long overdue that we include comedy, Comhaltas, amateur dramatics and country and western music. This was done without legislation. I have no issue with that as it was far quicker. To be fair, the Arts Council came on board when it was gently approached on it. The fear out there is that it is only going to be temporary. Could it be formally recognised? Why was it ever considered the case that comedy, Comhaltas, amateur dramatics societies or country and western singers were not art forms?

These are artists and entertainers. Is there a plan to formalise that and take the uncertainty out of it? This is a critical source of funding now for these artists and I repeat the word "artist".

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In relation to the basic income for artists, the scheme will be flexible enough to be broad and categorise the various artists who might not have had support in the past. It is in terms of how it is being rolled out now. Those who are successful over the course of this year will be chosen by lottery. Anybody who is successful and selected will be in that for three years. They will have certainty for three years and the expectation is that this will be the rolling approach. We have completed the pilot project and the feedback was very positive indeed. There were different views obviously and it is not in relation to how it is done because many would like to be part of it. We may not be able to accommodate everyone, but the proposal that has been settled on will accommodate 2,000 artists selected by lottery for three years, which provides that level of certainty to them. It certainly puts us at the forefront internationally as a country that is valuing the arts in this way. I represented Ireland at meeting of EU culture and media ministers last November and other European countries were very interested in this scheme because we are breaking new ground here. We have to assess that closely as we go. We have done the pilot project and now will have to monitor very closely how the scheme we opened up at the end of this year progresses to make sure it has the maximum impact and benefits artists in the best possible way in giving them the freedom to be creative and to dedicate themselves to their work.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Okay. As I say, to reassure those who are out there listening and watching today that this is not just a temporary measure is the key. In terms of the Brennan report, I will not ask the detail, but do we have a timeline on when that is coming back?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have just received the action plan from the Arts Council regarding its response to the Brennan report. From a Government point of view and indeed from an Arts Council point of view the report has been fully accepted. I think 149 recommendations are part of that and the Government and the Arts Council are fully committed to ensuring they are all implemented. The Arts Council came back to us in the last week or so with an implementation plan and a response to that as well. The Department is considering this at the moment, and then from that, agreeing and framing the timeline for implementation will be done as part of the response.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will that report be published or has it been published?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The report has not been published but it will be. The Brennan report obviously has been, but the response and the action plan have not been yet. We have only received it, but we will publish it.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Okay, I thank the Minister of State. Regarding integration in the GAA, will the Minister of State give me an update on the Department? There is a feeling out there that it is going a little bit slower than anticipated.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is a matter for the Gaelic games associations themselves to drive but from a Government point of view it is something we are very supportive of. The Minister and I and our team met iar-Uachtarán McAleese a couple of months ago for an update. It is something I have discussed with the organisations themselves. The feedback we have had so far is that they are working towards 2027. We will be as supportive of it as we can but it is a matter for them to progress in the best way they can themselves. We all know it is a big undertaking. There are many different aspects to it. I think it is a very worthy project and it will be very beneficial overall for Gaelic games to come together. Where things stand from the feedback we have received is that the GAA is still working towards 2027 as the date.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Has there been any discussion on the cost of it? A report in the media says that it could cost up to €250 million. Where is that going to come from?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Something that comes up is the challenges in relation to field space and the capacity of the different clubs. Whether we see amalgamation or not, that is a challenge that will be there. We will be seeking to help meet it in the context of the community sports facilities fund, the regional grant applications and the future LSSIF funding. There are challenges within the GAA in terms of bringing the organisations together. The organisations will have done their own assessments on that. From the point of view of engaging with the various organisations, the key issue that is raised with me is the capacity challenges in terms of playing space. From a Government point of view we will be looking to support this through the upcoming departmental funding rounds.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am conscious of time and it is important I get to ask this question. In my opinion, sports capital funding is one of the greatest things that this Government is doing. It is hitting the heart and soul of every town and village in Ireland. This has never been more needed to get them off their phones, get them off the streets, to join clubs and not gangs. It is just so important. Will the Minister of State touch on the date and the amounts that might be discussed? Has the increase in building costs been taken into account?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I fully agree with the Deputy about its importance. What we are doing there is backing the work which is primarily and almost exclusively driven by volunteers at club level. It is really important regarding the development of facilities that from a Government point of view we are putting the funding in to support them to expand the facilities. It has been yielding results and we are seeing more and more participation, which has been growing for both men and women, but particularly women. In the last few years we have seen that this is putting pressure on capacity and space as well. I have already had a conversation about it with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, in the context of the next round. We will have to finalise with the Minister what the level of funding will be. Across government, we are all very aware of the importance of having a very strong round, and that has been the case over the last two or three rounds as well. The most recent round was €270 million.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What is the date on that?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are aiming to open up around June and have it open over the summer with the objective of having it completed by the end of the year.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The basic income for artists was a good scheme and there was a control group. Is it intended to have a control group in the new roll-out later this year?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No, not this time.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is a delay between the current one finishing and the next one starting. In three years' time, will the same delay happen or will the process for the next number of thousands happen while the other one is up and running, so that it is seamless?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It has still to be decided but it should be more straightforward. This time around we are moving from a pilot to a scheme which has been established on a solid footing. The Department will be coming to it with the objective of trying to make sure that there is a much smoother transition.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

So while one is running, the other one will be prepared?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I think that would be the objective.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That would be logical because then it is easier from a financial point of view, as money is being spent and there is a full year. One of the interesting points of the experiment in itself was the research. Is there a research component, as in do those benefiting from this scheme have to provide answers and continuous research?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, they need to do that.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have had this discussion with the Minister in terms of the arts capital grant and we welcome that same approach in terms of sports and it is only in its infancy. In Dublin, even in my constituency alone, I can identify projects that Dublin City Council already has in place which would expend all of the funding that is available for this year alone. The Rupert Guinness Theatre has been offered by Guinness to Dublin City Council but the council is reluctant to take it on board because of the cost. It already did not have enough money to proceed with the Merchant's Quay project. I think there was a donation of €4 million or €5 million which is getting that up and running. The council has its own artist space projects, and it is way beyond what a council could expend without being able to draw on capital funding from Government.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I take the Deputy's point. This is an initiative that we are starting, and it is a welcome departure. We will have to assess it in order to budget for it. The amount for year is €6 million. I take the point that there will be lots of demand for it.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is the per cent for art scheme. In all public works, there is supposed to be 1% set aside for art projects. It does not go anywhere. In other words, there is no specific monitoring of it. There is not a fund or bank account for the 1%. If we take it that the cost of children's hospital is €2 billion, that is €200 million for the scheme. If there was a channel for the per cent for art scheme, there would be a significant increase, especially with the price of public works going up. We are not looking to put extra costs on that but it is a Government plan. Can we look at how that is administered or at least at knowing where that 1% for art goes?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The team has informed me that the Arts Council is doing a review of the per cent for art policy. There is a ceiling for any project. In terms of how it is working and how it will move forward, we will consider the review from the Arts Council when it is received.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Has the Minister of State any idea when that is expected?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Some time this year.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will go back to the old chestnut of the RTÉ review into IT projects. The Minister of State mentioned the implementation report. Will funding be available? Part of it is that the Arts Council fucked up, and RTÉ's HR system is knackered. Where will the funding come from to put in place a proper IT system? It is still needed. We heard RTÉ saying it would take one off the shelf and adapt it, but it still costs money. Is funding allowed? Will somebody external be in charge of making sure they get it right this time?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is something the Department is liaising closely with the Arts Council on. They are considering an off-the-shelf system. All eyes will be on making sure it is closely managed and monitored and is a success.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is that just the Arts Council? All the bodies under the Minister of State's remit need IT supports and new IT programmes. RTÉ's HR system is held together with tape, as I think they told us when they were before the committee. That is a big cost, especially if RTÉ is supposedly modernising. Somebody has to ensure that the station gets it right this time, rather than coming back in five or six years' time to say we put money into something that did not deliver.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. Hard lessons have been learnt in relation to this. It is something the Department will be working on with each organisation under its remit. RTÉ is budgeting for a new IT system. How the Department's engagement with each organisation is overseen and making sure it is appropriate to the scale of the project is something that will be closely monitored from the point of view of our own team.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I reiterate what others have mentioned about ensuring that comedy, as a discipline in itself, is allowed access to or can at least apply for funding from the Arts Council or for any arts funding that is available.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Arts Council has said it is open to that.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Cleere for allowing me to jump the queue. I have a meeting at half past. I thank the Minister of State and his officials for being here. It is disappointing that the senior Minister is not available for this session, but I appreciate all those in attendance. I thank them for being here.

I have a few questions on arts, media and sport. Starting with the arts, under the administration subhead, digital capital investment and IT expenses have risen by 86% with the capital spend more than doubling. Will the Minister of State give clarity on those changes within the Department? What is the increase going towards? I expect some of it is to do with the IT issues experienced elsewhere.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A number of IT projects and the 2026 census work were significant expenditures this year.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will that jump be retained?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is €3.9 million this year and will be assessed year to year in terms of the progress of it.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the public services activity output, the target for the number of individual artists allocated funding will fall from 2,100 in 2025 to 800 in 2026. Why is that?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It was related to the fact the Covid scheme was unwound gradually. The plan for the new BIA fund, when it is in progress, will be for 2,000 applicants, but the unwinding of the Covid scheme is the answer to the Deputy's question.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It does not make sense that it is because of the basic income scheme. We have been reassured time and again that will be in place by the end of the year. It is dealt with, I believe, by another metric anyway. Is that not the case?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The number of individual artists funded directly fell between 2024 and 2025, primarily due to changes in the agility award.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am talking about 2025 and 2026, and the fall from 2,100 to 800.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will just check with the team.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not the Minister of State's fault, but this is not ideal. For anyone watching, this is not the way a committee dealing with-----

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There was a Covid scheme that was unwound, and it settled at a lower number.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The number of learning and participation events at national cultural institutions decreased by almost half between 2022 and 2024. Why was that?

Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh:

It was probably for the same reason.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The same reason. It is Covid, is it?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The team will come back to the Deputy with details on that.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Moving on to the media and broadcasting section, there is provision for interim funding for RTÉ. I have concerns with the direction of RTÉ's strategy - I raised them with the director when he was in - and of the continued ability of our national broadcaster to fulfil its public service remit. I note SIPTU members voted no confidence in that strategy recently. What is the Minister doing to ensure we can be confident in our State broadcaster and in public service broadcasting into the future?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There has been a lot of engagement between the Government, the Minister and RTÉ on this. A three-year strategy has been agreed for the period 2025 to 2027. That is being monitored closely by the Department and RTÉ. We have profiled the funding that will be part of that and we expect RTÉ to work and live within that. The feedback and the view within the Department is there has been good engagement and progress. We will continue to monitor that closely to ensure the three-year strategy is stepped out and fully implemented.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

At the previous session we had with the director general, I found the main metric quite chilling. That is why I wanted to raise the matter here. The main metric he answered on is the metric he has been given, which is around redundancies. There seemed to be so little else in his responses. Everything boiled down to how many heads have been cut rather than preservation of and confidence in our national broadcaster to deliver public service broadcasting. There was very little discussion about public service broadcasting and how we are looking at that.

It was all focused on redundancies, as far as I could tell from the discussion at that session. That is why I raise the matter today. Perhaps what those other metrics might be is something the Department could raise when the director general appears here at committee and how we might make sure that strategy preserves the mandate of RTÉ for public service broadcasting, as well as the economic efficiencies, which we know are needed. My frustration is I appreciate that is the job he has been given to do, but that is the only one he answered on. I genuinely felt there was not enough coming forward on the public service broadcasting mandate.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is fair to say, from the point of view of the Government, that the objective is to have a public service broadcaster which serves the needs of the public. We all agree on the fact that this is more important than it has ever been. We also want to make sure, and this is part of the three-year strategy, that we have a more agile and more responsive national public service broadcaster. I was not tuned into the previous session. If that was the thrust of the conversation, it may have been where the focus was on that particular day. There is no doubt from the engagement the Government has had with RTÉ, and the putting in place of the strategy and where RTÉ is coming from, the objective is to serve the public well and to ensure there is a public service broadcaster that is strong, agile and can continue to meet our needs and thrive into the future, but is fit for purpose at the same time. The three-year strategy is framed in the context of achieving that. That requires significant change and adjustment within the organisation. That brings challenges and can be painful, but the ultimate objective is to make sure we have a public service broadcaster that is fit for purpose and is fulfilling the needs and requirements of the public.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The ultimate objective is about a financial response to what has happened in the past number of years. I find it hard to believe that we can retain a public service broadcasting mandate within an organisation that is outsourcing everything from religious affairs to children's programmes, and now documentaries and so on, and essentially retaining news and sport as the only in-house production. There is just no way we will see the continuation of the incredible documentary output we have seen from RTÉ over the years, if everything is being done by the commercial space. I appreciate that public service mandate is passed on through the commissioning process, but nonetheless there are just ways in which I cannot see that tradition continuing and that mandate being preserved with this continuing model.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The ultimate test of how we are serving the public service broadcasting needs of the public is the actual output. There is no doubt that more of it is being outsourced. We have seen more of that in recent times and there is more of that happening at the moment as well, but the ultimate test is what the end-product is, whether the public is getting the diversity of programming it needs and the type of programming that meets a public service requirement. The entire objective of the reform and support of RTÉ is to make sure that is the case. Obviously, the Government support to achieve that objective is not exclusive to RTÉ. We have seen support for independent broadcasting, independent media and commercial. That is important. We all know the value provided by services in the regions across the country, and by other streams, and the pressure they are under to continue to maintain standards and provide that service to the public. The Government is supporting that too.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is calling it independent. I call it commercial because any of the regional stuff is now all foreign-owned. The thing about outsourcing to the commercial sector right now in terms of documentary and everything else that is going out is we have a thriving creative sector that is responding well to the challenges asked of it, but we have no certainty, once we outsource, that it will remain indigenous and committed to the public service mandate. That is the issue I have. We are losing that cultural institution of a State broadcaster bit by bit. My issue is that it is being hollowed out. No amount of words from people saying it is not being hollowed out are going to change my mind on that. That is what I am seeing happen. We use words like independent" and "commercial". I am running out of time, so I will save my supplementary question for the next round.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I am very disappointed that the Minister with responsibility for this brief is not here, but I thank the Minister of State and all his colleagues for coming. I will start on the sport side of things and then segue through the questions.

My first question is on the community sports facility grant, or the old sports capital grant, which is a lifeline for clubs and sporting organisations right around the country. The Minister of State came to Kilkenny and Carlow to do events and talks on it. Clubs are ready to go now. They have been preparing their projects for the last number of years. I am looking for a little oversight. We know it is opening in the summer. In Kilkenny, €7 million in capital expenditure was paid out in the last round to 77 clubs. In Carlow, 49 clubs had €5 million paid out. It was a huge investment and shot in the arm for clubs right around the place for 16 different sports from GAA to cricket, pitch-and-putt, soccer, camogie, rowing, athletics and rugby. All sorts of sports were covered. The Minister of State said it would be this summer, but has he any tighter timeline as to when he thinks this scheme will open? It is just so I can give a bit of clarity to some of the clubs.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We expect to open it around June and keep it open over the summer.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Brilliant. It is usually about an eight-week period. Will it be a bit shorter?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is about that. The objective is to give clubs the time and space to be able to get their applications in. That is something we will decide in a while. If we open it up in June, I expect to keep it open for two to three months to give them that time and space.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am conscious that if it opens in June, it will be the summer holidays and schools will be closed. If it were open a little longer, it might be more helpful.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is fair to say we will leave it open over the summer so that clubs can apply.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is it envisaged that the decisions will be made before Christmas?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is a really positive message to get out here today. I look forward to sharing that word later on. In terms of an acknowledgement of the Government, to go from a little over €70 million three lots ago, to €170 million and then to €270 million is a huge investment in sport. We are talking about Estimates today, but I hope that the pot of money will be far north of €270 million because the impact it has is far greater than that. Whatever the Minister of State can do to get that pot as big as possible would be greatly appreciated by all clubs.

To get into the specifics of the community sports facility grant, the cap on equipment last time was €70,000. Obviously, inflation and costs have gone up a great deal. If it were possible to get that €70,000 up a little for the equipment, kitting out gyms, etc., that would be very helpful. The cap on the local one was €200,000 in the last round. Again, if there could be an increase in that from €200,000 to maybe €250,000, it would be very helpful for a lot of sports clubs because costs have skyrocketed over the last number of years. I also ask for the regional grant of €500,000 to go up as well. I know I am looking for increases everywhere but the costs of doing business and the cost of construction have increased everywhere. It is really positive news that the grant is opening. The sports capital grant is my number one priority. We have dealt with that. I have talked more than I have asked but I got what I wanted.

On the Department of sport and athlete welfare, we have had a good few engagements with national governing bodies, NGBs, over the last while on governance issues they may have or elite athlete complaints. How is the Department addressing issues of governance with NGBs? More specifically, are there any plans or moneys being put aside to introduce an independent body for handling complaints in sport coming through?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In the first instance, it is important to recognise that Sport Ireland was established 25-plus years ago to put a structure and framework in place to try to professionalise how we do sport and how we administer sport in the country. That has made a massive difference. We have seen continued progress over the past number of years as more and more of our national governing bodies work to the codes of practice that are in place. That is monitored and supported by Sport Ireland. We have had some issues in recent times. The committee has had a number of meetings in relation to rowing, in particular. From a Government and Department point of view, we are responding to that. We have committed to commissioning a review, the terms of reference of which are being finalised, to assess exactly how that was managed at the time, whether it can be managed better and whether there are steps we can take that can improve the infrastructure we have in place in terms of oversight. We have to recognise a very significant framework is in place, as are codes of practice that have athlete welfare very much at the centre of them. Obviously, codes of practice are one aspect; making sure they are implemented and monitored is another part.

We constantly have to consider whether we are doing that as strongly as we can, and that is something we will be considering in the context of the experience from Rowing Ireland.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know from the Minister of State's notes that we are planning for some major international sporting events, such as the Ryder Cup, which is going to be amazing, and Euro 2028. What costings have we put into the Ryder Cup and Euro 2028? I will ask about the Tour de France specifically. The Tour de France was in Ireland in 1998 and we held a stage down in the south east, which was absolutely fantastic. Are there any conversations going on at present regarding the possibility of getting the start of the Tour de France or a stage in Ireland, particularly in the south east and in Kilkenny and Carlow? It would be a huge boost to the Irish economy.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No, not at present. Certainly in 2024 we published a major sporting events strategy, so we are open to considering any type of proposal. As a country, in recent times, we have shown how we can be a nation that does large sporting events well. We saw that last summer, even in a relatively short timeframe, with the first major National Football League season game taking place here. That was a great success, and obviously, we have the Ryder Cup coming up and the Euro championships in 2028. We also have the T20 Cricket World Cup.

We are open to any other proposal that might come forward in the meantime, and we will consider how we can respond to that from a budgetary point of view. They will be considered in light of the major sporting events strategy we published, which gives clarity to everyone as to how we will consider them.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Moving back to the sports capital grant for a second, is there conditionality with the sports capital grant in terms of female use of facilities?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is absolutely expected that all clubs would be open and fully accessible to people of all genders and ages.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Perfect. I am conscious of time, so I will move quickly along. There has been a lot of talk recently about the introduction of a culture card. IMRO and various different organisations have been in, and I know from the reply to a parliamentary question I tabled that we are at its infancy stage, engaging with different stakeholders about the possibility of introducing a culture card that is similar to what there is in France, Spain and Italy. Where are we at currently with the finance side of things and introducing a culture card for people when they turn 18 years of age?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is at early-stage assessment and investigation of how it might work. There has been some work carried out on this but it is early days as regards how it might step forward and what the potential would be. I know it is something the Deputy has been an exceptionally strong advocate for, and he has been very much at the forefront of extolling the benefits of introducing one. From the Department's point of view, early-stage analysis is where it has got to so far.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is a real opportunity with the Presidency of the European Council in the second half of this year to engage and use the experience. We do not want to reinvent the wheel; it is already operational in other European countries. We could do a copy and paste job, whether that is on Italy, Spain or France, or whatever we want to do. From a departmental perspective, and I know the senior Minister is not here and it is out of the Minister of State's remit, this is something we need to get a bit of urgency and impetus on.

I have two final quick things before I go. I wish to acknowledge the Minister of State in respect of the additional funding for the post office network. We get lobbied regularly on this, and the post office network is crucial to rural Ireland; it is absolutely vital. The Minister of State got it increased from €10 million to €15 million, and I acknowledge that. That is what the postmasters were looking for and that is what we delivered for them. A million people use the post office services every single week, and it is absolutely amazing. I acknowledge the Minister of State and his team in the delivery of that.

Finally, regarding the RTÉ side of things and the licence fee, I know we had issues with compliance with licence fees. What is the current compliance rate for licence fees?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is retrospective, so we do not have a current rate at present.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What would it have been roughly in the most recent figures the Department had?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We will come back to the Deputy with an answer on that.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It would be interesting to see the comparison before the issues and the challenges RTÉ had, to put it mildly. I would be to see what the rate of licences paid versus now, because obviously it is quite a big thing.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With licence fee revenue, from 2020 to 2025, the licence fee revenue would have been €122 million. The year before that, in 2024, it was €125 million and in 2023, it was €131 million. In 2022, it was €151 million.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is a big drop.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2022, it was €151 million and then the following year it was €131 million, then €125 million and last year, it was €122 million.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is trending beautifully in the wrong direction.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Between 2024 and 2025, there was a small drop, but it was fairly steady. Certainly, there was a drop from 2022.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and Deputies.

It is not the Minister of State's fault, but this is not optimal. He is not expected to cover a whole Department, normally. I am here 20 years and I have never been in this scenario. It should never happen again.

Many of my questions have been covered but, from a Departmental point of view, does the Minister of State have a delegation order?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, that is correct.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Can the Minister of State supply a copy of that to the committee? I should have asked for it separately.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Who is in charge of sport? Is it the Minister of State or is it the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is a shared responsibility. I have delegated responsibility regarding the day-to-day operation of sport. Obviously, within any Department, the Cabinet Minister is responsible to Government and also in this regard.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, I understand that.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As with every Department, it will be a shared responsibility.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Well, not necessarily, I did both jobs. As regards the delegation order, which I have not seen, who has responsibility for Sport Ireland? Is it delegated to the Minister of State or is it the senior Minister?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is delegated to me.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is responsible.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has full responsibility.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, it is a delegated function.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With all other sporting organisations, and there are not too many I suppose, the Minister of State has full responsibility for funding the Ryder Cup, major projects and all of that.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes. As the Chair knows having been a Minister himself, the Cabinet Minister is responsible to Cabinet and also has responsibility. However, in terms of the delegated function, Sport Ireland and all funding apart from the Ryder Cup, which is retained by the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is delegated to me.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand 100% the differentiation between a senior Minister and a junior Minister, having done both jobs and been at Cabinet. However, if a Government gives a Minister a delegation order and it specifies the legislation and the organisations that junior Minister is responsible for, which is passed by Cabinet, then that junior Minister is de facto responsible even though the senior Minister relays the information to Cabinet.

The Minister of State has responsibility for Sport Ireland and everything to do with sports funding. The only issue he does not have, which is probably purely because it is very much in the Minister's bailiwick, is the Ryder Cup. That is the summary.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, that is correct.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is good to know, because obviously, we will be addressing issues relating to Sport Ireland to the Minister of State in particular. It is good to know who we deal with, because in fairness, it is an important differentiation.

I have a few questions for clarification. I have a concern about GAA integration. I am going to shoot it straight there. My concern relates to its having overshot the runway here. The organisation was before this committee here and said it was going to be 2027. A week later, we saw media reports that there was a concern this was not going to be met, and now we have a new president coming in. I know this is not the responsibility of the Department, but there is huge demand from an integration point of view regarding potential funding because of integration. I am 100% in favour of integration, but it needs to be managed as regards how this is relating. If this is to be done by 2027, the Department needs to be budgeting for how to potentially support this, if the Minister and the Government so wish. However, if the new incoming president is saying it is going to be 2034, yet former President McAleese is sticking to her guns at 2027, how does that allow a Department to plan funding in any functional way?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Cathaoirleach will know, it is a matter for the Gaelic games organisations themselves.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, that is 100% the case.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is a project they-----

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Surely someone is asking why there is a differential of seven years, if clubs are going to come looking for money.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know the committee has met representatives of the Gaelic games organisations to discuss the nuts and bolts in relation to progress and timelines, and it can do so again at any stage. I have done the same and, no more than the Cathaoirleach, I am very supportive of the project.

I mentioned the capacity issues earlier. They are not unique to Gaelic games. We have them across all sporting organisations. The Government wishes to respond to this with investments through the community sports facilities fund, in particular. We will consider how best we support all sporting organisations through that funding.

How the Gaelic games organisations come together is a matter for themselves.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My key ask is from a budgetary point of view. There is a difference of seven years between what the GAA said one month and what it said another month. Is the Department engaging with the GAA and pointing out that it is coming to the Department cap in hand when, in the space of a few months, the timeline has changed by seven years? Has the Department had that conversation?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have had conversations with GAA representatives. The GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association are clear that they have capacity challenges in many parts of the country. That is not unique to those organisations. In tennis, football, basketball and hockey, there are similar challenges. We want to support all our sporting organisations to meet the challenges they have. We will have a budget, in which we will agree on an amount with which we will do the best we can to support all the organisations.

As to the context and the requirements of the individual organisations that are coming together, a lot of the challenges are technical and administrative and the organisations are grappling with those. I understand that is a big part of the work involved as regards the timelines.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister of State have any concerns about how Sport Ireland, which he is in charge of, manages safeguarding with the national governing bodies, NGBs, and the consequences of that? Are there any plans to change how that works using an independent organisation? The committee has written to the Minister on this matter.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Sport Ireland does a very good job. I know the committee has had a number of meetings on Rowing Ireland. We are putting in place a review of that issue. We always have to consider if things have been done based on best practice and if policies have been implemented.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Are there terms of reference for the review and is there a timeline in place?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are finalising the terms and conditions at the moment. We hope to do that pretty shortly.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will it be in the next couple of weeks?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I hope it will be in the next short number of weeks.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is good to know.

Given that everyone has asked about sports capital funding, I want to lock this down. There is great public interest in this funding but also a little bit of confusion as regards what fits where. There is the traditional sports capital fund, where grants are capped at €200,000. There is the equipment grant which is capped at €70,000. There are then the major infrastructure grants which are capped at €25 million, I believe.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, €25 million.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Those are the three categories. The Minister of State told the committee that the application process for equipment for everyday, normal clubs will start in June, conclude over the summer months and we will have decisions before the new year. To have that information gives great clarity. As regards the major funding streams, will they be the same?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The regional fund will be opened at the same time as the equipment fund.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is great. All three-----

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The large-scale fund is the exception. There will be one round of the large-scale fund towards the end of the Government's term.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is where the confusion is and I, as Chair, want to get to the bottom of it. We have four different categories, then. There is the €70,000 category, the normal €200,000 category - the caps could change - the regional category and then the large-scale category. The regional funding will also be in the June announcement.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is right.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The regional cap is €500,000.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, €500,000.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The large-scale fund, where grants are capped at €25 million, will be open before the end of the year.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No, there will be one round of that fund during the course of this Government. There will probably be another round of the large-scale infrastructure fund inside the next three years. We have had two rounds of the large-scale infrastructure fund so far. The first was in 2019 and the most recent one was in 2024.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I remember that.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We expect another round inside the next three years.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will have a final go at this. The €70,000 small equipment grants, the normal €200,000 sports capital fund and the €500,000 regional fund will be announced in June and decisions will be made by the end of the year.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, by the end of the year.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Perfect. It is great to know that. The large-scale infrastructure fund will be later on. Will the Minister of State look at the €70,000 and €200,000 grants?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are reviewing what the terms and conditions of the next round will be for the equipment fund, the community sports facilities fund and also the regional grants. We are also reviewing the caps, which will be subject to a final discussion with the Department and Minister for public expenditure on what the overall pot will be for this particular round.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is an awful lot of political rubbish spoken about sports capital funding, about there being political influence and so on. I used to be a Minister of State in the Department. I have met the officials and they do a fine job down in Killarney. I could drive the Minister of State to their offices down there. I know exactly where they are based as I was there years ago. The funding is based on a matrix, a weighting of different variables, and rightly so. It is not about ministerial visits or political influence because, frankly, if it was, we would be out of a job because no one should, or can, intervene in such matters. Let us be very clear about that. It does not matter if God Almighty, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for sport, the senior Minister or whoever else turns up at a GAA club, soccer club or boxing club. If that has an influence on the decision, we have big problems. There is a matrix in place, which is weighted and based on a scoring scheme. There can be weightings based on geography, different sports, regionalisation and all of that. I get that and support it 100%. I just want to get that straight. Politically, let us get real here.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Obviously, the Government has a very strong role in relation to making a decision to fund sports.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, 100%-----

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is really important.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----but it is not picking the boxing club, the soccer club or anything else.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

At the moment, we also want to give clarity to clubs to enable them to apply and give them a good chance in that regard. Over the past couple of rounds, we have seen that transpire in significant support on the ground for clubs. The Chair is right that it has to be done in a transparent manner. It has been transparent and it will be again. We will also ensure that it is all done in a way that supports the most pressing needs. In the review of the terms and conditions for the next round, those are the considerations we are finalising and which will be made clear to clubs whenever the funds open for applications.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To be honest with the Minister of State, I have been doing this for 20-odd years and the best influence I can have in helping local clubs to get grants is to advise during the application process in regard to documentation, variables, how to fill in the application form and all of that. Once the seal comes across all applications in the country, there is nothing any politician should or can do. That is the way it has to be in relation to all funding and everything in the Department. I am sick and tired of the political chicanery and rubbish that goes on in regard to this issue. It happens across the board and has happened in everyone's day. I am absolutely sick of it and will call it out in this committee again in future if it happens. This process has to be transparent, fair and done in a manner that means clubs know, provided they are entitled to funding, that if they have not applied before, they have all their ducks in a row and their application is correct in terms of what they need to do, they will get their due reward.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To be fair to politicians, and the Cathaoirleach will see this across the Houses of the Oireachtas, that is the view that public representatives take. In my experience, public representatives are very keen to work with clubs to help them to prepare, encourage and support them in their application process, and support the Government in trying to put as strong a funding allocation behind it as possible. We saw the results of that the last time around.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am saying the same thing but I am making very clear that there is no political influence. That is a fact. There is political influence as regards the volume of money but there is no political influence as regards the decision-making on any one club.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No, and in terms of making sure it is transparent. There has been no indication otherwise coming from anyone here.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have one specific question under the Minister of State's portfolio of sport. It is around the target for the number of national governing bodies supported by Sport Ireland's women in sport programme. That number stands at 45 and has not risen in the past few years. Why is that the case when there are 65 national governing bodies on Sport Ireland's books? We have only seen a modest increase in the women in sport funding targets. Perhaps the Minister of State will talk about those topics.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We developed a stream specifically for women in sport funding a number of years ago. We have seen it be very successful. It continues to be open to more national governing bodies to apply for it and we would encourage more to think about it and to look at particular programmes within their national governing bodies where they could benefit from women in sport funding. In the round, we would see it is probably the smaller national governing bodies with less capacity that have not decided to apply for specific funding to do initiatives within their national governing bodies that could promote more participation in sport by women. The Government would encourage them to do that.

Over the course of the national sports strategy from 2018 to now, the targets have been strongly met where we are trying to address the gender gap we have traditionally seen between men and women. It has been closed significantly. The most recent sports monitor indicated that the gap between men and women was now 3%.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What does that 3% refer to?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The gap between the number of women who participate in sport on a weekly basis and the number of men who participate in sport on a weekly basis. The gap was 7% to 8% at the start of the sport strategy and is now down to 3%. We have seen good growth among men and women, but more so among women because the gap has closed significantly. That is something we want to continue to see close and will continue to fund.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is great. I had not appreciated it is up to the national governing bodies to push that number up to 65. Perhaps the Department would consider the kinds of incentives that could be afforded and the barriers and blockages to those national governing bodies coming forward.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Another thing we have supported over the past year or so is the appointment of a women in sport lead within Sport Ireland, specifically for the purpose of working with the national governing bodies to try to give them additional support to identify opportunities to increase participation.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I mentioned the fact that we have only seen very modest increases in women in sport funding targets. Is that something the Minister of State is looking at in the context of the overall funding?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Would the Deputy say that again?

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have only seen modest increases in women in sport funding targets. I appreciate that the other metric I asked about was on the side of the national governing bodies. This relates to the Department's targets.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have seen funding increase over recent years. Last year , it reached a record level and we have held it at the same level this year. Engaging with Sport Ireland in relation to the level of demand, the decision was made to hold at that level as it was meeting the demand we were finding. We do, however, want to encourage more national governing bodies to consider how they could use particular streams. Sport Ireland has put in place the resources within the organisation to support that happening.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The participation metric is encouraging and positive. However, we all know there is a whole journey to travel to put the professional games on a level of parity. That requires additional funding.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Two years ago, funding was doubled from €2 million to €4 million. It has held this year at €4 million.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister of State anticipate it will rise again?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We will assess the need for programmes. We are absolutely committed to continuing to support that. Another significant initiative we took under the most recent budget was around female participation in rugby. We allocated a specific €700,000 to the IRFU. It has done good work over recent years in terms of putting its own resources into developing the female teams. It wants to get to the stage where it has developed a provincial infrastructure similar to that on the men's side. We allocated €700,000 in this year's budget specifically to support that measure. That reflects the work we are looking to do across all national governing bodies.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will pick up on the Chair's point about sports capital. I understand where he is coming from, but I have very strong opinions. I have met representatives of 120 clubs in the past 150 days. They are very clear that they need to line up their ducks. They need to have the legal aspects right. They need to have their projects and pricing lined up. I feel they are very firmly of the opinion that they know there is no political interference and they have to do this work themselves.

We can take the case study of the townland of Askamore, which is beside where I live. It is tying to build a new clubhouse. There is no pub in this area. There is no shop in this area. The club is the first introduction to anyone who moves into the area. This fund is doing great things for them and their determination to get there. The only way they can get there is by doing it themselves and filling out the forms. I know the word has been used 100 times, but this fund is a game-changer. It really is a game-changer for that area. I hope the ceiling will be higher because it is needed for these areas.

Before I move from that point, the idea of schools linking in with clubs is a huge step forward. I felt they were slightly isolated because the Department of education has plenty of issues itself. It is healthy. St. Mary's school in my area and the local GAA club are hoping to link up and go for an all-weather pitch. It has to be a positive. Schools are closed for parts of the year and the idea that the club can use the facilities during those times makes commercial sense and common sense.

I will move to the FAI, and it would be remiss of me not to wish the team well tomorrow. I read recently that there has been financial restructuring within the FAI. Can the Minister of State explain the reason for that? Is it a once-off in terms of repayments due to us?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The FAI has done a lot of work in restructuring the organisation and putting in place and following a strategy, which it believes makes the organisation fit the strategy. It is under the auspices of Government support, through a memorandum of understanding, MOU, whereby we are providing funding of just under €7 million per year to support the FAI in its work. We have also engaged with the FAI on the repayment of loans. The Government supported the FAI in respect of the repayment of loans for the Aviva Stadium. The FAI has made a request to reschedule those repayments over the coming years to provide it with more space, particularly between now and Euro 2028. The FAI will be under financial pressure for the next couple of years. The Government is willing to facilitate the restructuring of those loans to provide that breathing space for the FAI. The term time for repayments will increase by one year or one year and a half. The money will be fully repaid and the FAI has been repaying it up to now. However, we will provide breathing space for it to be able to do that.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is the FAI's financial viability dependent on results on the pitch?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Results make a massive difference. I join the Deputy in wishing the team massively well in advance of the match tomorrow evening. I have no doubt that it will be a wonderful occasion in Prague and I am honoured that I will have the opportunity to be there to support the team. Were the team, for example, to qualify for the World Cup this year, it would make a massive difference to the income of the FAI. Co-hosting Euro 2028, along with the UK, is also going to be important for the income stream for 2028. Qualification for tournaments has a big impact on the FAI's financial health and well-being.

I must say from the Government point of view that we are now on our second MOU to support the organisation as it comes out of the terrible position it found itself in a number of years ago. The FAI is doing a lot of work to ensure it implements that MOU and makes progress. That is something the Government is committed to supporting the FAI in respect of.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the support, especially at the grassroots level because what the FAI is doing in the communities of small villages and towns around Ireland is crucial. How can it base its financial model on results on the pitch? That is what it has to do.

It is a double whammy because if they did not qualify it would have a dent in their financial budget as well and they would have a new budget.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I think they are budgeting on the basis of what they can see ahead of themselves. As a country we will be co-hosting the European Championships in 2028. That is something that will be happening in this country and which will be a benefit to them. Were we to qualify for the World Cup it would make a massive difference and would lead to a significant injection from a financial point of view, for the morale of the country, for the growth of the team and for the growth of football.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. A successful team leads to a successful economy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Like everybody else we wish the national soccer team well. They have a hard fixture ahead of them.

This is more in relation to the community sports facilities fund than the sports capital grant, whether it is big, small or indifferent. There is an EU Commission directive from September 2023 that relates to all-weather pitches. In 2031 the current microplastic, which is basically the rubber crumb that is put in, will be banned from use in the future and no more pitches will have that. I have a question, which was already asked of the Minister, so it has already been answered on the record, but I was not really satisfied with the record. Because we are within the transition period between 2023 to 2031 we have an opportunity now to say to any clubs getting the sports capital grant that such a facility would be based on the crumb being in line with the future directive. The transition period was to allow for pitches that are ageing out. When they are getting the new stuff in 2031 most might use cork but there is other stuff too. It is to prevent the use of microplastics and it is for health protection as well so that children who are playing on these surfaces now do not end up with cancer based on inhaling the rubber dust and the microplastics. We have an opportunity now to put that restriction in, whether it is in this grant round or the next round. I do not know if it is an additional cost. As 2031 approaches, or even before that, we also need to look at how clubs pull out the material that is already there and replace it with another kind. That process will be front-loaded ahead of other clubs that are still dependent on the older microplastics. It is on health grounds. This is the time to start the ball rolling and properly fund the proper material.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes. It is something that is coming down the tracks. Cork seems to be the substance being recommended to replace the rubber and plastic crumb. There is a shortage of that replacement material at the moment and not a big supply. It is important that we do continue to support the development of AstroTurf and to work with the rules that are there currently. We will have to then support clubs and support that transition as it happens. It is five or six years down the road and certainly the supply of the new material is not in place at the moment to make that transition or to require that transition at the moment. Given the weather we have had over the last months and the number of grass pitches that were rained off, and which had a lot of pressure on them as a result of that, it is really important that we support the development of AstroTurf and that we see a strong outcome coming from the next community sports facilities fund in terms of the development of AstroTurf pitches too. We will certainly be looking at the terms and conditions to support clubs to do that with the capacity and with the material that is there at the moment but then to comply with the new regulations as they evolve.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

If we continue supporting this, as I understand it, those clubs who get the grants this year will be building within the next year, but there needs to be some logical thinking because clubs will be putting in place material that has been identified as cancerous or bad for our health and the State would be funding this. I could go to the Minister for Health on it but we do not want to go down that road. The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, does not want it to be said in the future that somebody is making a claim against the State for its funding of something that it knew, during this transition period, needed to be phased out. Let us get the supply line right in terms of the cork crumb, but also let us not be funding the one that is causing the problem from whatever year, be it next year or the year after. It will be gone by 2031.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not just an Irish issue, obviously, as it is a European regulation. There will have to be a transition here in relation to the supply chain.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The transition period is until 2031. We will have no choice after that.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is also about the alternative materials and the replacement materials being developed, and that supply chain developing itself as well. That is certainly something we will encourage in any way we can. There is a challenge at the moment in terms of the alternative supply but it is something we are very conscious of. We will work fully and comply fully with the European regulations and on the timeline involved, as agreed, for the transition.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I fully support all-weather pitches. The more the merrier and especially, as the Minister of State has said, considering the recent weather.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have a couple of last questions and a bit of run around different places. Based on what the Minister of State said earlier we as a committee now understand that he is in charge of everything to do with sport bar the Ryder Cup. Is that correct?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is that-----

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

So if the Minister of State was going off to the match tomorrow the Minister does not have to sign off on him going to the match.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

So any sporting event the Minister of State goes to he can make that decision himself and he does not need ministerial agreement.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No. I mean-----

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

So that is not in the Minister of State's delegation order.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What is not in the delegation of functions order? I can provide the committee with a copy of the delegation order-----

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am just wondering about attendance at major sporting events. Does the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, have to sign off on the Minister of State going or not?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

So the Minister of State does not need his agreement?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is not in the Minister of State's delegation order?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I just want to get some clarity on funding announcements, which we should have done some time ago. On overall funding application announcements that have to be signed off by Cabinet such as sports campus, sports capital and all of that, does the Minister of State make those final decisions on his own?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In relation to the engagement-----

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

They are brought to Cabinet by the Minister-----

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes. In terms of that, on a daily basis we are working with the national governing bodies and are working with Sport Ireland, which is a delegated function for day-to-day business. When it comes to funding announcements on the development of the sports capital and development of the large-scale infrastructure funds, these are something to be agreed jointly by the two Ministers and by myself working with the Cabinet Minister, and the Cabinet Minister would seek approval from the Cabinet as appropriate.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The reason I ask is that I just wanted to make sure it is the Minister of State who has the final decision when it comes to sport and that it is not the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan and that he does not have a veto. When I was the junior minister, it was under Leo Varadkar of all people, and I have to acknowledge, in fairness, that I brought the issues to the Cabinet and just attended briefly. Anything that was in my delegation order I had the final say on and that was it. I just wanted to know if this is still the practice within the Department, and that there is no way - in any way, shape or form - that when it comes to all of these issues the Minister of State would not have the final say. It would be a political issue potentially for us as the administrative committee that works with the Department that we need to know who we are dealing with, and while the Minister may have to brief the Cabinet, it is the Minister of State's decision.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The delegation of functions order is probably a two- or three-page document that goes through the process and the differentiation of responsibilities fairly clearly. The best way-----

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

So, with any decisions the Minister of State makes in relation to anything to do with sport, outside of the Ryder Cup, which we have established, the Minister of State makes the final decision and the final decision there is not met by the Minister. In other words, if there is a disagreement between the two of you, who makes the decision?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It depends on the scale and the level of investment involved. The delegation of functions is fairly clear on that.

I will provide the Chair with a copy of that. It will provide the clarity that he needs.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is the Minister of State over postal policy?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The committee and many Deputies have had communications about the delay in the payment of pensions. What is the update on that?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That has been signed off by me, by the Department and by the Department of public expenditure, so it is resolved.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Totally. There are no legacy issues.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What about the payments?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The payments are progressing. An Post is responsible for the payments and the pension fund.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is there a gap or a delay?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The increases to the pensions that were sought by An Post were dealt with in a timely fashion. Whenever they come in, we are required under the governance code to get NewERA to assess them. NewERA did that, they came back and we promptly signed off on them. They are fully signed off now by my Department and the Department of public expenditure.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Does the Department have an opinion with regard to the RTÉ plan? I agree with much of what Deputy Gibney said earlier about not paying the €600,000 from the administrative pension scheme in RTÉ. Does the Department have a view on this? The €600,000 is one thing, but the principle of it is another.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department received a request, but it has not been approved by the Department. The Minister has written back to RTÉ refusing the request.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is perfect. I thank the Minister of State for that clarity. He might provide us with a copy of that, or any correspondence in and out on that.

On postal policy, what is the Government's view regarding An Post and the opening up of new post offices? What is the conditionality around that to influence or, possibly a better term, encourage An Post to open new post offices in areas where post offices have previously closed? It would generally be a rural area, although it could be in Dublin as well, and I know the office in Rathmines has often been spoken about. I will give a local example, although I could give examples in Kerry or Galway that were also brought to my attention. A number of post offices have closed in my area, which means that between Nenagh and Killaloe, there is no post office. Where post offices have closed, new shops have opened, with massive investment, and they are willing to open a post office as part of that. What is the conditionality? I know this is a decision for An Post and all of that. Would the Government look favourably at such a proposition? I could give other examples in Kerry and Galway, where there are similar situations.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is absolutely the Government's objective to make sure that as many post offices as possible are open and remain open. That is why we are investing and have committed to increasing the funding to postmasters by €5 million, or 50%, from €10 million to €15 million. That figure was sought by the postmasters’ representatives, and we have delivered on that.

The day-to-day operations and decisions on post offices are for An Post. However, it is very clear that, from a Government point of view, it is our objective to maintain as many post offices as possible. I know the protocol in place with An Post is that, as does happen, where a postmaster plans to retire, it advertises and provides the opportunity for people to apply in the same area. That is something we are very supportive of. We are showing our support for that by virtue of the Government funding that we are committing.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Where a postmaster has retired and a year or two has passed, An Post has to be a bit more flexible. I am not saying that it is not going to do this, and I do not know if a decision has been made. As Chair of this committee, people write to me to raise this issue. Every case is different. However, it should not just be a matter of coming down to say “No.” There are times when it should be saying “Yes”, particularly where people are going to invest a lot of money and offer a professional service. The handling of parcels is also becoming relevant from a geographic point of view.

With regard to the Arts Council funding and diversification into areas like comedy and so on, is that being progressed?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes. The Arts Council has indicated a willingness-----

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

By the way, a number of comedians want to come before the committee.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Arts Council is well disposed to considering applications, so I would encourage people to apply.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In the cultural infrastructure arts space, what was the total fund this year?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is €6 million.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I get it. It is low for a window of six months. This is something I am very passionate about, and a couple of Deputies have dug into my past. There is a learning curve here in terms of moving up, and gradually, hopefully over a number of years, this will increase and increase. I commend the Government and the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, for this. It is an excellent idea. I think there is bang for the buck in relation to communities and performance, whether it is music, dance or other art forms such as theatre. The reality in many towns is that there is not the capacity for these performers to perform in proper facilities. In the initial scheme, while it is not a pilot scheme and is a general scheme, the allocations are going to be tiny unless it is restricted to ten or 15 applications. I presume there will be learnings from this. Instead of spreading it so thin, it would be better to have the application process with six to ten applications, and then move it on to maybe 25 or 30 the following year. If the Department spreads it too thin, it will not get massive learnings from it. I just wanted to say that before we conclude. The Minister of State might take that on board. What is his view?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is a very strong development and support, and providing funding for it is overdue. With regard to finalising the details of the scheme, we will be considering how best to spend that. There is limited time between now and the end of the year, so consideration will be given to how to make sure that €6 million does get spent this year, how it can be allocated in the most effective manner and also how we taper it with the rollover into next year.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That concludes our work for today. I thank the Minister of State and his officials for coming before us.

In accordance with standing orders, a message will be sent to the Clerk of the Dáil. We will then go into private session before we adjourn.