Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that these festivals are part of the unique fabric of rural Ireland. The Arts Council is currently accepting applications for funding under round 1 of the festivals investment scheme for festivals taking place between January and June of next year. There are three bands of funding available: band A provides funding up to €7,000; band B provides funding of between €7,000 and €20,000; and band C provides funding of between €20,000 and €35,000. The closing date for applications for further supports is 5.30 p.m. on Thursday, 23 July. I bring that to the Deputy's attention.

The festivals and events industry, and the broader tourism sector, are facing severe limitations and challenges in these exceptional times. Therefore, Fáilte Ireland is working to redefine the scope of the festivals innovation programme into the future. For that reason, the programme has been temporarily suspended and no applications are being considered but that is because we are trying to reinvent how it can be done and improve the scope of the programme.

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