Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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294. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce. [24845/20]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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297. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a voice will be given to the commercial live events sector in the recently announced task force in order to represent the substantial needs of the live events community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24908/20]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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300. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if representation by the commercial live events sector will be ensured on the taskforce for the recovery of the arts and culture in view of the fact this subsection of workers are the least likely to return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25188/20]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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303. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to grant funding to the live events sector (details supplied); if the sector will be considered when appointing persons to the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25268/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 294, 297, 300 and 303 together.

The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future, includes a commitment to “establish a cross-departmental taskforce to develop a clear approach, informed by the views of all stakeholders, to protect and sustain the arts and culture sector through the COVID-19 recovery and beyond. This will be fed into the National Economic Plan.”While the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have had an unprecedented effect on society and on the economy, the impact on the arts and culture sector has been more detrimental and will undoubtedly last longer than that of many other sectors.

To advance this commitment, I have announced the establishment of a new Taskforce for the recovery of the Arts and Culture sector under the Chair of Clare Duignan. I intend to address the first meeting of the Taskforce this afternoon. The Terms of Reference of the Taskforce are as follows.

The Taskforce will prepare a report for the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht including a set of recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector includes culture, the arts, the audiovisual industry and the live entertainment industry. Taking as its starting point, the research and evidence of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the sector compiled by the Department, the Arts Council and other stakeholders, the Taskforce will:-

- adopt a solution-focused approach;

- seek sector-specific expert input and consult with stakeholders;

- invite additional individuals or expertise to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis, as it deems necessary;

- focus on providing intelligence and recommendations for an expected on-going and varying impact of COVID-19 restrictions;

- identify immediate and medium term goals for recovery and sustainability in the sector;

- identify possible policy initiatives or impediments to a robust sustainable recovery in the sector;

- recommend whole of Government policy initiatives and actions to support the sector;

- report to the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht by the 31 October 2020 in order to provide the Government with an action-plan for the sector.

Composition of Taskforce

Clare Duignan is chairing the Task Force and the other members are as follows:

- Arts Council

- Business to Arts

- Council of the National Cultural Institutions

- County and City Management Association (CCMA)

- Department of Health

- Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht,

- Department of Social Protection

- Ealaín na Gaeltachta

- Events Industry Alliance (2)

- Irish Congress of Trade Unions

- National Campaign for the Arts

- Irish Music Rights Organisation

- Irish Theatre Institute

- Screen Ireland

- Screen Producers Ireland

- Denise Chaila

- Martin Hayes

Each of the members has my gratitude for taking on this challenging task and I look forward to the report in due course.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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295. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress the Covid-19 restrictions have caused to those previously working in the live events sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24906/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Arts and Culture sectors have taken a very particular hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; cultural venues and events were among the first to be closed in the country’s public health response to the crisis, and they will be among the last to recover. I am eager to get our musicians, our performers and all their behind-the-scenes technical support people back to earning a living and doing what they do so well, as Irish society needs live performance and events.

The Jobs Stimulus package has specifically provided a range of supports as follows:

- The culture and audio visual sectors will benefit from a new €10 million pilot “Performance and Production Support Package” to support the live performance and the audiovisual production sector.Under this funding package, a new scheme "Live Performance Support Scheme" has been be put in place to assist venues and promoters of live performances in music and theatre, by helping to de-risk the costs of preparing for new productions which may subsequently have to be postponed or cancelled. Also under this package, an audiovisual scheme will be put in place to assist the film and TV drama sector. These pilot schemes have been designed in consultation with the sectors, and aim to build confidence in recommencing production, rehearsals and event planning now for the months ahead.

- A further €2 million will also be available for the next round Sound and Vision for the audiovisual sector.Broadcasting has played a vital role in providing reliable news and information to citizens throughout the COVID-19 crisis, and in bringing together local communities.

- The additional funding to this sector comes on top of other supports made this year totalling €13.2m. A €3 million TV Drama Fund administered by Screen Ireland will support the production of new Irish TV drama content in line with the Government’s Audiovisual Action Plan, and will grow the sector, firmly placing creativity at the centre of Irish government policy.

- In addition, the Jobs Stimulus has provided a new €10 million Culture Fund, which will include increased funding for Creative Ireland, to employ artists through the Creative Youth and Creative Communities programmes, funding to support the commissioning of artists to produce creative content for the national broadcast, a dedicated fund for musicians, recognising the particular difficulties being experienced by music performers across a range of genres and funding for Ealaíon na Gaeltachta for new artists’ bursaries and arts activities in Gaeltacht schools.

- A further capital funding of up to €6 million is also being made available to accelerate the redevelopment and renewal of our National Cultural Institutions envisaged under the National Development Plan.

I have also recently announced the membership of the Arts and Culture Recovery Task Force, which meets for the first time today. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the arts and culture sectors. Live performances, theatre, music and events have all but disappeared from society. Identifying ways of preserving and re-establishing this once-vibrant, heart-warming and magical sector will be a mammoth task. The membership of the Task Force that I am appointing holds a wealth of experience and talent and I have no doubt that collectively they will rise to the challenge. The sector includes culture, the arts, the audiovisual industry and the live entertainment industry.

Clare Duignan will chair the Task Force and the other members will be:

- Arts Council

- Business to Arts

- Council of the National Cultural Institutions

- County and City Management Association (CCMA)

- Department of Health

- Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht

- Department of Social Protection

- Ealaín na Gaeltachta

- Events Industry Alliance

- Irish Congress of Trade Unions

- National Campaign for the Arts

- Irish Music Rights Organisation

- Irish Theatre Institute

- Screen Ireland

- Screen Producers Ireland

- Denise Chaila

- Martin Hayes

The Taskforce will prepare a report including a set of recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and I look forward to receiving this. Taking as its starting point, the research and evidence of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the sector compiled by the Department, the Arts Council and other stakeholders, the Taskforce will:-

- adopt a solution-focused approach;

- seek sector-specific expert input and consult with stakeholders;

- invite additional individuals or expertise to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis, as it deems necessary;

- focus on providing intelligence and recommendations for an expected on-going and varying impact of COVID-19 restrictions;

- identify immediate and medium term goals for recovery and sustainability in the sector;

- identify possible policy initiatives or impediments to a robust sustainable recovery in the sector;

- recommend whole of Government policy initiatives and actions to support the sector;

- Produce a report by the 31 October 2020 in order to provide the Government with an action-plan for the sector.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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296. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider granting funding to the live events sector proportionate to the funds allocated to the Arts Council in 2020 in recognition of the fact that the sector accounts for 90% of all tickets sold here; if the critical lack of grant funding to the sector will be acknowledged; if a commitment will be given to a ringfenced fund for businesses in the sector that can remain viable until restrictions are lifted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24907/20]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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301. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will give urgent consideration to the issues (details supplied) raised regarding a sector that has been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic; if adequate financial support will be provided to enable this sector reopen to the safest extent possible and protect employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25212/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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302. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department is working on the design of initiatives to support the various elements of the events sector which are unlikely return to generating more than a fraction of former revenue at any point in the new Covid-19 Roadmap; and the options under consideration. [25267/20]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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306. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will address the matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25318/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 296, 301, 302 and 306 together.

I recently met with the Events Industry Alliance (EIA) and heard first hand the concerns of the events industry which includes the commercial live music performance sector. I am eager to get our musicians, our performers and all their behind-the-scenes technical support people back to earning a living and doing what they do so well, as Irish society needs live performance and events. I am acutely aware of the balance needed between the health guidelines, living with Covid-19 and sustaining livelihoods.

I am also very conscious of the unprecedented nature of the challenge facing live performance promoters and producers, not least from a financial point of view. I was pleased to have recently announced a new fund that will assist established commercial venues and promoters to employ performers, artists, technicians, creative and performance support staff up to the end of 2020 in anticipation of the return of audiences to live performance.

An allocation of €5 million is being made available under the “Live Performance Support Scheme” under my Department which aims to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters of live performances and provide employment to workers in the creative industries. The scheme will help to de-risk the costs of preparing for new productions which may subsequently have to be postponed, cancelled or curtailed due to restrictions to safeguard public health. The main objective of the scheme is to provide employment opportunities in the ticketed performance sector and allow commercial organisers of live performances to commence preparations immediately and productions to go ahead in the near future while also complying with public health protection measures. This scheme has been developed following consultation with the sector and will be managed directly by my Department.

I was delighted to also recently announce the establishment of a new Taskforce for the recovery of the Arts and Culture sector under the Chair of Clare Duignan. The Taskforce, which meets for the first time today, will prepare a report including a set of recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The sector includes culture, the arts, the audio-visual industry and the live entertainment industry with the Events Industry Alliance represented on the taskforce. The Taskforce will:-

- adopt a solution-focused approach;

- seek sector-specific expert input and consult with stakeholders;

- invite additional individuals or expertise to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis, as it deems necessary;

- focus on providing intelligence and recommendations for an expected on-going and varying impact of COVID-19 restrictions;

- identify immediate and medium term goals for recovery and sustainability in the sector;

- identify possible policy initiatives or impediments to a robust sustainable recovery in the sector;

- recommend whole of Government policy initiatives and actions to support the sector;

- prepare a report by the 31 October 2020 in order to provide the Government with an action-plan for the sector.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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298. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the 100 spectators and patrons allowed at outdoor sporting events includes players and management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24971/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Government’s Resilience and Recovery 20-21: Plan for Living with Covid-19 permits attendance, at the current Level 2 of the Plan, by up to 100 spectators at outdoor sporting events and 50 spectators at indoor sporting events. Up to 200 spectators are allowed for outdoor stadia or other fixed outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000. These numbers are in addition to players, officials and other persons necessary for the holding of the event.

Under Level 3 of the Plan, no matches or sports events are permitted other than those which are specifically exempted under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The exemption applies to elite and professional sport, inter-county GAA, ladies football or camogie matches and any national senior club championships that are already underway. Where these events are taking place, they must be held behind closed doors with no spectators permitted.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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299. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if choirs can resume indoor rehearsals with appropriate and robust social distancing in place. [25075/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Guidance for organised indoor events/gatherings in controlled environments is set out in the Resilience and Recovery Plan for Living with COVID-19 which is a cross-government approach to managing the pandemic for the coming months.Information on this Plan can be accessed at this link

The Government has decided that the entire county of Dublin will be placed on Level 3 of the Framework for Restrictive Measures from midnight last Friday. Dublin will remain at Level 3 for a period of 3 weeks, until Friday 9 October, at which point the situation will be reviewed by the Government. Further information can be viewed at the following link

This guidance states that no organised indoor gatherings should take place in Dublin.

The rest of Ireland is currently at Level 2. The guidance states that at Level 2 organised indoor gatherings in controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager - for example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport) - can have up to 50 patrons in pods or groups of up to 6 if appropriate, with arrangements to ensure no intermingling of groups. Up to 100 patrons are permitted for larger venues where strict 2 metre seated social distancing and one-way controls for entry and exit can be implemented.

For very large purpose built event facilities (for example: stadia, auditoriums, conference or event centres) specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for larger events.” ()

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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304. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason she has not met with an association (details supplied) in view of ongoing requests for a meeting from the body; and if she will meet directly with the association. [25277/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I met with the Event Industry Alliance on 2 September. The association to which the Deputy refers is a constituent member of the Alliance.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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305. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the names of those sitting on the Taskforce for the Night-time Economy; the number of meetings held to date; the dates of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25299/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I announced the establishment and composition of the Night time Economy Taskforce on 30 July 2020. The aim of the Taskforce is to look at innovative approaches to supporting and developing a vibrant, diverse night time culture and economy in Ireland. Key Departments, Agencies and relevant groups are represented on this Taskforce at senior level as well as the Lord Mayors of Cork and Dublin and Mr. Sunil Sharpe from Give us the Night. The Taskforce members are detailed below:

Members of the Night-Time Economy Task Force

The first meeting of the Taskforce is due to take place on 29^thSeptember 2020.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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307. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the July stimulus; the way in which she has assisted the recovery of the arts and entertainment sector; her plans to expand the recovery taskforce to include more industry representation from the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25375/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The arts and culture sectors have been severely impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; cultural venues and events were among the first to be closed in the country’s public health response to the crisis, and they will be among the last to recover. I am eager to get our musicians, our performers and all their behind-the-scenes technical support people back to earning a living and doing what they do so well, as Irish society needs live performance and events

The Jobs Stimulus package includes a range of measures to support the sector as follows:

- The culture and audio visual sectors will benefit from a new €10 million pilot “Performance and Production Support Package” to support the live performance and the audiovisual production sector.Under this funding package, a new scheme "Live Performance Support Scheme" has been be put in place to assist venues and promoters of live performances in music and theatre, by helping to de-risk the costs of preparing for new productions which may subsequently have to be postponed or cancelled. Also under this package, an audiovisual scheme will be put in place to assist the film and TV drama sector. These pilot schemes have been designed in consultation with the sectors, and aim to build confidence in recommencing production, rehearsals and event planning now for the months ahead.

- A further €2 million will also be available for the next round Sound and Vision for the audiovisual sector.Broadcasting has played a vital role in providing reliable news and information to citizens throughout the COVID-19 crisis, and in bringing together local communities.

- The additional funding to this sector comes on top of other supports made this year totalling €13.2m. A €3 million TV Drama Fund administered by Screen Ireland will support the production of new Irish TV drama content in line with the Government’s Audiovisual Action Plan, and will grow the sector, firmly placing creativity at the centre of Irish government policy.

- In addition, the Jobs Stimulus has provided a new €10 million Culture Fund,which will include increased funding for Creative Ireland, to employ artists through the Creative Youth and Creative Communities programmes, funding to support the commissioning of artists to produce creative content for the national broadcast, a dedicated fund for musicians, recognising the particular difficulties being experienced by music performers across a range of genres and funding for Ealaíon na Gaeltachta for new artists’ bursaries and arts activities in Gaeltacht schools.

- A further capital funding of up to €6 million is also being made available to accelerate the redevelopment and renewal of our National Cultural Institutions envisaged under the National Development Plan.

I have also recently announced the membership of the Arts and Culture Recovery Task Force, which will meet for the first time today. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the arts and culture sectors. Live performances, theatre, music and events have all but disappeared from society. Identifying ways of preserving and re-establishing this once-vibrant, heart-warming and magical sector will be a mammoth task. The membership of the Task Force that I am appointing holds a wealth of experience and talent and I have no doubt that collectively they will rise to the challenge. The sector includes culture, the arts, the audiovisual industry and the live entertainment industry.

Clare Duignan is chairing the Task Force and the other members are:

- Arts Council

- Business to Arts

- Council of the National Cultural Institutions

- County and City Management Association (CCMA)

- Department of Health

- Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht

- Department of Social Protection

- Ealaín na Gaeltachta

- Events Industry Alliance

- Irish Congress of Trade Unions

- National Campaign for the Arts

- Irish Music Rights Organisation

- Irish Theatre Institute

- Screen Ireland

- Screen Producers Ireland

- Denise Chaila

- Martin Hayes

The Taskforce will prepare a report including a set of recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and I look forward to receiving this. Taking as its starting point, the research and evidence of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the sector compiled by the Department, the Arts Council and other stakeholders, the Taskforce will:-

- adopt a solution-focused approach;

- seek sector-specific expert input and consult with stakeholders;

- invite additional individuals or expertise to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis, as it deems necessary;

- focus on providing intelligence and recommendations for an expected on-going and varying impact of COVID-19 restrictions;

- identify immediate and medium term goals for recovery and sustainability in the sector;

- identify possible policy initiatives or impediments to a robust sustainable recovery in the sector;

- recommend whole of Government policy initiatives and actions to support the sector;

- Produce a report by the 31 October 2020 in order to provide the Government with an action-plan for the sector.