Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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530. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports her Department has put in place for sports clubs and groups such as marching bands that have rent on halls and related costs to pay but have been closed for the majority of 2020; and if there is assistance available to these clubs to ensure they are not forced to close for good. [32736/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On Monday 2 November, I announced details of an €85 million funding package for the Irish sport sector, which has been significantly impacted by the various COVID-19 restrictions imposed since March 2020. This funding package includes COVID-19 funding of €70 million, which will provide support for the three main field sports organisations (the FAI, GAA and IRFU), a Resilience Fund to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport, a Sports Club Resilience Fund to support clubs, and a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund. It also includes an additional €15 million to the GAA, Camogie Association and Ladies Gaelic Football Association specifically for the running of the 2020 Inter-County Championships.

The funding, which is being allocated by Sport Ireland, will address the existential threat to National Governing Bodies and their club networks, allowing sports organisations to offset significant losses incurred in recent months and add a semblance of certainty to planning for 2021.

The significant investment will reach all levels of the sport sector with National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnerships and thousands of grassroots clubs across Ireland set to benefit.

The funding is being invested through grant schemes with Sport Ireland’s recognised funding partners, including the National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and other funded sporting organisations. Sport Ireland will not provide funding directly to sports clubs, affiliates, provinces or branches, this funding will be accessed through programmes established by each of the National Governing Bodies in receipt of funding. It is expected that the National Governing Bodies will publish details of funding allocated to clubs under these programmes in due course.

Details of the funding allocations announced on Monday are available on Sport Ireland's website www.sportireland.ie.

The above schemes provide support for National Governing Bodies of sport and sports clubs that require assistance arising from COVID-19. The schemes do not apply to other groups such as marching bands. In addition, my Department has a range of initiatives that support for music, include marching bands. For example, my Department provides funding for the purchase of equipment under the Music Capital Scheme to performing groups and individual talented musicians on an annual basis throughout the country. The Scheme is managed by Music Network on behalf of my Department.

The Department also provides funding to support Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ), which is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music both at community and national level. Annual funding is provided to CCÉ for its work in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture. They promote traditional music and dance in the following ways:

Thousands of children and young people develop their musical performance (instrumentation and vocal) skills and appreciation skills at these mentored weekly classes, where the emphasis is oral transmission in an appropriate context. Over 1,500 Classes are delivered weekly in community settings. Classes are not currently permitted under Level 5 restrictions.

With over 400 branches, 18 centres, 7 Regional centres and 11 Outreach centres throughout Ireland, Britain, North America and worldwide, a wide variety of formal and informal performance opportunities are provided through the Comhaltas structures and Centres. Each Centre has a local performance group which provides appropriate opportunities for young traditional artists (aged 16 upwards) to participate in formal stage performances.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann which is run by CCÉ, has record attendance of 500,000 annually with over 6,000 participating in its competitions.

I can assure the Deputy that I am continuing to work with stakeholders and with Government colleagues to ensure that the appropriate supports are in place to help sustain these sectors throughout the COVID-19 crisis.