Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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918. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of a compensation package for summer schools (details supplied); if the funding is new funding; if not, if it is directed from existing schemes; if directed from existing schemes, the scheme and the budget allocation for the scheme for 2020; the reason accommodation providers applying for same are required to commit to providing accommodation in 2021 as part of the 2020 compensation scheme in view of the fact they have not been provided guidelines or information on potential social distancing requirements for 2021 which they may not be able to meet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13205/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, my predecessor announced the establishment of an emergency fund worth €4.7m in order to stabilise the Irish summer colleges sector. Funding for this stabilisation measure is being provided from existing resources provided this year for Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge within my Departments Vote, which became available for re-allocation following the decision, on 20th April 2020, to suspend the scheme for 2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

One of the primary objectives of this once-off funding is to ensure the long-term viability of the sector going forward into 2021 and beyond, for the benefit of both the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. 

Arrangements are currently in hand to disburse the fund to qualifying householders and college authorities.

In light of the importance to the sector of ensuring the ongoing availability of suitably qualified households to provide student accommodation into the future and, notwithstanding the uncertainty around how matters will unfold in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants under the stabilisation measure are being asked to confirm inter alia, that they intend to participate in the scheme next year. 

Needless to say, my Department will continue to monitor the situation regarding the impact of COVID-19 on an ongoing basis in the context of the Irish summer colleges sector and ensure that public safety remains as a priority.