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

4. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to confirm whether he granted funding to a festival on an exceptional basis outside the normal application processes for annual departmental or Arts Council schemes; the amounts and the recipients of such exceptional funding outside the normal applications processes provided by his Department in relation to community festivals and summer schools since his appointment; and if he will commit to ensuring in future that any such exceptional funding is separately indexed by his Department. [52539/25]

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

My last attempt to ask this question was disallowed and a freedom of information request has yet to receive a response. I will ask it outright: did the new Minister ignore all normal arm's length criteria and competition-based funding processes so he could provide thousands of taxpayers' euro off the books at the request of somebody who was until January of this year a Government Senator?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The short answer is "No", but I will give the Deputy a longer answer now.

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

That is okay.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I understand the Deputy is referring to the approval on 30 May of an allocation of support not to exceed €25,000 in respect of the Listowel Writers Festival. My Department has a number of processes for allocating funding to a wide range of artistic and cultural organisations and events. These processes are designed to ensure fairness and, insofar as possible, maximise responsiveness to the needs of the sector. In response to requests for funding for local events each year, individuals and organisations, where possible, are directed to the small-scale local festival and summer school scheme or the Arts Council festival scheme, depending on the size of the event. It should be noted that organisations cannot receive income from both schemes.

There may be instances whereby applicants have made an application to the Arts Council which was refused, and on this basis, the organisations may seek funding from the Department when that scheme is closed. Where such requests are received, the Department will consider them on a case-by-case basis. These are subject to available resources and all allocations are subject to compliance with public financial procedures, the requirements of the grant circular and my approval as Minister. This process has been in place for many years and all such grants are published each year on the Department’s website at the page headed "Cultural Projects Funding".

Listowel Writers Week is an internationally acclaimed literary festival, devoted to bringing together writers and audiences at innovative events in the historic and intimate surroundings of Listowel. It was founded in 1970, with the first festival taking place in 1971. Listowel Writers Week is Ireland’s oldest literary and arts festival. It is a forum where writers, artists and poets gather to promote writing of all genres and create an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible audience. It is a festival where writers and readers gather to celebrate the written word together. Support of €25,000 for Listowel Writers Festival was approved alongside allocations to the Phil Murphy Weekend, which received €20,000; Éigse Michael Hartnett, which received €15,000; and Other Voices, which was granted €40,000.

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

I did not name the festival because I believe it deserves to be funded - I have absolutely no problem with that - but I am interested in the way in which the normal funding process was circumvented in this instance. The question is whether there are other ways for festivals to circumvent the small-scale schemes that the Minister mentioned or the Arts Council schemes. Yes, there are occasions when this happens but the Department does not publish a list of all of the groups that got funding outside of the normal channels and funding methods. The reason those funding methods were put in place was to avoid circumstances like the current one where allegations are made about the Department, the Minister or the person who sought the funding. I wish the festival well and I hope it continues. Hopefully, it will be funded properly so there is no need to try to seek funding outside of the normal channels.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy might say it is "outside of the normal channels" but I wonder if he ran this question by his colleague, Deputy Pa Daly, who represents the constituency of Kerry, before he came into the Chamber. Deputy Daly has used a similar channel for festival in Tralee called Anam. It was approved under that channel and received €7,500. There was no difficulty with that. I do not know what Deputy Ó Snodaigh has against the people of Listowel, and I do not know what he has against Listowel Writers Week, which is a very worthy festival. The last time I answered questions in this House, Deputy Ó Snodaigh and Deputy Doherty tore the place asunder over funding for a musical event in Gaoth Dobhair. Since those parliamentary questions, I was able to allocate funding to that event outside what the Deputy would call "normal" procedures. Does Deputy Ó Snodaigh believe I should take that money back from Gaoth Dobhair? Will he take it up with Deputy Doherty? Will he take up the €7,500 that the Department allocated to a festival in Tralee on foot of a request from Deputy Pa Daly? According to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, this was done "outside of the normal channels"?

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

I can answer that directly: no.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Do as I say and not as I do.

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

If the Minister would listen, I specifically said that Listowel Writers Week deserves to be properly funded.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

So does Tralee. What is the problem?

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

Yes but the Minister did not publish that he was giving this money in this format to Listowel, to-----

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The funding to Tralee was not published either.

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

-----Tralee or to any of the other ones.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

So will we look for the money back again?

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

The Minister should publish it. That is transparency.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is grand, okay.

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

If he is going to do it this way, the Minister will attract applications well beyond the three he mentioned.

That is not the process. He set up a process and that is the way in which people should apply for funding and that funding should be increased. The problem is the Minister and his Department are not being transparent in the way it is funding. Yes, there are exceptions and, yes, there is a need-----

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

There are exceptions and those exceptions include Listowel Writers' Week, Tralee and others, but that should be published. The Minister should be open that this funding stream is available to everybody.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I could not be more open about Listowel. If the Deputy's party Deputy from north Kerry had turned up to the opening of Listowel Writers' Week, he would have got a press release on the extent of what the Department was giving. The Deputy does not have an issue with Tralee, because of Deputy Pa Daly, or with Gweedore, because of Deputy Pearse Doherty.

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

I have no issue with Listowel either.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Forgetting outside-----

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

I have absolutely no issue with Listowel.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What did the people of Listowel ever do to Sinn Féin?

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

I have absolutely no problem with Listowel.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What did the people of Listowel ever do to Sinn Féin?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Why is it that the Deputy is against-----

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Can we have some order?

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

I had not mentioned Listowel. The Minister named it.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy named it in correspondence to my Department. I am clearing up the Dáil record.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Let the Minister respond.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy named it in correspondence to my Department.

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

The Minister brought Listowel into this.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy does not like it now. He named it in correspondence to my Department. I am going to be clear with the Dáil. The Deputy has a problem with Listowel Writers' Week. He has a problem.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy should let me finish. I did not shout him down.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Let the Minister finish.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is the Deputy's tactic. He is now adopting the Pearse Doherty tactic. The last day the two Deputies came in here and they attacked me over Gweedore. I subsequently was able to fix it.

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

I did not.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Okay. Let the Minister-----

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I did not hear the Deputy say today that I had allocated money to Gweedore outside normal practices. I also did not hear him say that I had allocated money to Tralee outside normal practices.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Minister, you are over time.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy should take it up with his own two Deputies.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Minister, you are over time.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy should take it up with his own two Deputies. I hope the people of Listowel-----

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I hope the people of Listowel are listening to this on Radio Kerry.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Can the Deputy resume his seat, please?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I hope Jerry O'Sullivan on Radio Kerry is listening to this. I do not know what the Deputy has against the people of Listowel.

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

I have absolutely no problem.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy did not have the guts to put it down on the Question Paper today - the name of it.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Minister, please.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We have to move on. We are nearly one minute over time.

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

I would not have been allowed with the rules of the House. I did not put it down specifically, so that I was not casting aspersions on Listowel.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy cast aspersions on an individual.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Minister, resume your seat.

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

It was on the Minister and not on the------.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

How dare the Deputy cast aspersions on me. On what basis is the Deputy casting aspersions on me?

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Minister, will you resume your seat?

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

The Minister has been doing that for the past ten minutes.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Resume your seat.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On what basis is the Deputy casting aspersions on me?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy should take it up with his colleague, Deputy Pa Daly. Do not come in here like a hypocrite.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Minister, please resume your seat. Deputy, resume your seat.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy wants to have his cake and to eat it. He has a problem with Listowel Writers' Week.

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

I have absolutely no problem with Listowel.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy has a problem with the people of Listowel but he has no problem with Gweedore.

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

I do not have a problem with the people of Listowel.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is a hypocrite.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Minister, will you please-----

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is a hypocrite.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy, resume your seat.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The people of Listowel and Deputy Daly will know all about.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Minister, please. We need to move on.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

They will get more next year.

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

Great. That is what I said. They should be funded properly. I might get an invite next year.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We might move on.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is an open invite to everybody.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Ó Snodaigh has touched a nerve.

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

A very raw nerve.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Because I am in favour of the people of Listowel. I will take Deputy McGuinness on as well.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What problem does Sinn Féin have with the people of Listowel? It is absolutely ridiculous, Minister, to be fair.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Exactly. The decent people of Listowel.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have not followed the issue but I thought that was a bit ridiculous.