Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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358. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports that will be available to the arts industry following the difficulties posted by Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14841/20]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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371. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if specific funding will be provided for the arts sector due to the severe difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15863/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 358, 371 and 376 together.

The Government is aware of the unprecedented impact that the coronavirus is having on business and people’s livelihoods and that this impact is likely to be more protracted in the arts sector.

The Government has extended its two universal income support measures for all sectors. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment, operated by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, has been extended to 10 August. The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), operated by the Revenue Commissioners, has been extended to 31 August and allows employers to retain the link with employees so that when the crisis passes, people can get back to work as quickly and seamlessly as possible.

The Arts Council is the main route through which the Government funds the arts and artists in Ireland. The 2020 allocation to the Council has been increased to €100 million. It includes an additional €20 million allocated last month in recognition of the challenges facing the sector. The Arts Council has indicated that it will allocate the additional funding to bursaries and commissions to artists and arts organisations and these will be coming on stream over the coming weeks and months. Further information is available at the Arts Council's website www.artscouncil.ie/funding/.

The Government is preparing a July stimulus package which will set out additional supportive measures for a range of sectors to ensure that the economy is in a position to recover rapidly. Details will be announced by Government in due course.