Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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147. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the criteria for the allocation of Covid-19 funding support for the sport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15115/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A funding package of up to €70 million was announced on Friday 19th June to support the sport sector, which has been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The funding package will be administered by Sport Ireland, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport.

This funding package includes;

- Funding of up to €40m for the three main field sports organisations – the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU.

- a Resilience Fund of up to €10m to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs),

- a Sports Club Resilience Fund of up to €15m to support clubs, and

- a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund of up to €5m.

The allocation of this funding to individual NGBs or clubs has not yet been determined. The funding will be invested through new grant schemes which are currently being developed. It is expected that the precise terms of each of the new grant schemes will be announced by Sport Ireland later this month and Sport Ireland will announce an open invitation to applications from funded bodies for assistance under the grant schemes.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports available to taxi drivers who have been impacted from Covid-19 and have still been unable to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15213/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I recognise that from the onset of the COVID-19 Emergency and the introduction of restrictions as part of the necessary public health response, passenger demand for taxis and other small public service vehicle (SPSV) services fell considerably and many operators stopped working.

In recognition of the challenges facing businesses, the Government put in place a range of measures to assist businesses during the current COVID-19 pandemic, including the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme, the COVID-19 Restart Grant, and a waiver of commercial rates. Self-employed owner operators of SPSVs may also avail of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

Over the past few months, the National Transport Authority (NTA), which is the body under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for regulating the SPSV sector, has undertaken a number of measures to assist operators in the industry including waivers, facilitating temporary licence suspensions, interaction with the Insurance industry, and providing guidance to operators on cleaning and other ways to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.

At the present time, while the financial supports mentioned continue to be available, the focus now is on assisting those who have stopped working to get back to work as the economy reopens and passenger demand for SPSVs returns. My Department is in regular contact with the NTA to monitor the impact that the reopening of the economy in line with the Government's Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business is having on demand for SPSV services and to ensure that SPSV operators who have temporarily stopped working are well placed to return to work.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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149. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the proposal presented by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will engage with the organisation and respond to its proposals. [15324/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department has been in discussion with the organisation concerned in relation to these proposals, which I am currently pursuing with Government colleagues.

The health, leisure and fitness sector plays an important role in improving the health and wellbeing of the Irish population and I am aware that it has been significantly impacted by both the three-month closure and the continuing capacity constraints associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sector is also an important source of employment for young people in particular, in positions such as lifeguards, fitness instructors, swim teachers and summer camp coaches. It has been estimated that some two-thirds of the total sector workforce of 12,000 is aged 34 years and under.

Work on the preparation of the July Stimulus package is nearing completion. I believe that it will contain a series of measures and supports that will be of benefit to this sector.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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150. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when Sport Ireland will announce the opening of applications for assistance under the €70 million grant scheme; and the process sporting clubs can apply for this funding. [15325/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A funding package of up to €70 million was announced on Friday 19th June to support the sport sector, which has been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The funding package will be administered by Sport Ireland, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport.

This funding package includes;

- Funding of up to €40m for the three main field sports organisations – the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU.

- a Resilience Fund of up to €10m to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs),

- a Sports Club Resilience Fund of up to €15m to support clubs, and

- a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund of up to €5m.

The allocation of this funding to individual NGBs or clubs has not yet been determined. The funding will be invested through new grant schemes which are currently being developed. It is expected that the precise terms of each of the new grant schemes will be announced by Sport Ireland later this month and Sport Ireland will announce an open invitation to applications from funded bodies for assistance under the grant schemes.