Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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74. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will address a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32213/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I can assure the Deputy that I am acutely aware of the pressures facing those working in the live entertainment industry and related sectors.  That is why the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce includes two representatives from the Events Industry Alliance.  The Taskforce is due to Report shortly. 

In addition, an amount of €50 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for live performance.  The live performance sector will be consulted in advance of the announcement of its allocation. The purpose of this funding is to support performers and crew who have been severely impacted by the current public health crisis. This will build on the pilot live performance scheme in 2020 which was introduced as part of the July Stimulus.  The pilot scheme was available to promoters whether or not they owned their own premises.There will be further supports for music, building on the phenomenal demand for support under the July stimulus Music Scheme operated by First Music Contact.  A scheme of capital grants for equipment will also operate in 2021.  Officials in my Department will engage with the sector on the detail of how these new supports will operate, and I hope also to announce the recipients of the pilot scheme shortly. 

These measures  are in addition to other supports common to other or all sectors including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, restart grants, exemptions from commercial rates, the warehousing of tax liabilities, and the reduction in VAT on ticket sales. In addition, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment  is available to all employees and the self-employed who have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  There are also a range of loans, grants, vouchers and schemes available including the  COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme which offers loans  from €10,000 to €1 million, for terms of up to five and a half years, and COVID-19 Business Loans of up to €25,000 which are available through Microfinance Ireland with zero repayments and zero interest for the first 6 months and the equivalent of an additional 6 months interest-free subject to certain terms and conditions.

Details of all of these supports are available at .

My Department and I will continue to engage with stakeholders to tailor supports to meet the needs of the sector in light of prevailing public health guidance.