Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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262. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if vital services in the arts and entertainment sector, such as wedding entertainment providers and so on, will be entitled to some form of financial assistance following the loss of work from the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14350/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Government has a number of universal supports in place to provide financial assistance for people who have lost their jobs as a result of the restrictions put in place to address the Covid-19 pandemic.

These include the Pandemic Unemployment Payment operated by the Department of Social Protection. In addition to these there are Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Assistance schemes as well as Jobseeker's Assistance for Self-Employed Artists.

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme is available to employers who retain their employees and this is operated by the Revenue Commissioners.

Further detail of these schemes can be accessed at the following link

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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263. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to maintain Covid-19 payments and or wage subsidy schemes to those involved in the entertainment industry until such time that mass gatherings are permitted (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14351/20]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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266. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will ask the Ministers for Social Protection, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Finance to respond to the request by those artists, workers and crew in the arts and live entertainment and their representative organisations to maintain the pandemic unemployment payment and the temporary wage subsidy scheme and to provide other supports and grants for those in that sector who, because of public health and social distancing requirements, have no prospect of a return to viability for the foreseeable future and to maintain those supports until full recovery in the sector is achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14561/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 266 together.

The Government operates two universal supports for all sectors including the entertainment industry. The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme allows employers to retain staff and it is operated by the Revenue Commissioners. I understand that over 64,400 employers are registered for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme with the Revenue Commissioners. Those employers have around 405,000 employees being supported by the Scheme. The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme has been extended to 31 August 2020.

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is available to those who become unemployed as result of the pandemic and it is operated by the Department of Social Protection and Rural Development and the Islands. I understand that as of 30 June up to 439,000 people were in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment and these are now required to confirm their eligibility for the receipt of the payment. The PUP has been extended to 10 August 2020.Further details of this are available on the gov.ie website at the following link

In addition to these income supports there are jobseekers benefit and jobseekers assistance schemes as well as Jobseekers Assistance for Self-Employed Artists. Further detail of these schemes can be accessed at the following link

The continuation of these income supports and other issues will be considered as part of the Government’s July stimulus package to boost the economy after the coronavirus.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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264. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to support the country and Irish music industry following Covid-19; if the industry will receive sufficient national airplay from broadcasters to ensure the survival of the industry; the support package she has in place to support artists that continue to be out of work as a result of Government restrictions; her plans to support Irish artists, specifically traditional and country music artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14399/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Government has a number of universal supports in place for all sectors including the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme for employers operated by the Revenue Commissioners and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment operated by the Department of Social Protection and Rural Development and the Islands. In addition to these there are jobseekers benefit and jobseekers assistance schemes as well as Jobseekers Assistance for Self-Employed Artists. Further detail of these schemes can be accessed at the following link

The Arts Council is the main route through which the Government funds the arts and artists in Ireland. The 2020 allocation to the Council is €100 million and it includes an additional €20 million allocated last month. The Arts Council has indicated that it will allocate the additional funding to bursaries and commissions to artists and arts organisations.

With to the question of airplay, I understand that traditional and contemporary arts are among the categories set out the Broadcasting Act, 2009 as being eligible for funding under the Sound and Vision Scheme which is supported by 7% of TV licence fee receipts.

There are a number of factors which must be taken into account when considering the feasibility of introducing broadcasting content quotas. The potential benefit to the Irish artistic industry must be balanced with the rights of broadcasters, subject to their contractual or regulatory obligations, to determine the type of content they wish to broadcast and to maximise their commercial revenue particularly in the context of the current media climate. Importantly, the introduction of broadcasting quotas would need to be consistent with EU law.

My Department has also supported a range of initiatives to bring cultural and creative content to the public during the period of restrictions. These include Culture Ireland's Ireland Performs initiative, the Courage programme in partnership with Other Voices, as well as the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions.These measures has showcased the work of artists to large national and international audiences and provided opportunities for paid work for artists and other arts workers at a time when few alternative opportunities were available.