Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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27. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 980 of 8 September 2020, the actions she plans to take to ensure the survival and success of Irish dancing through the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); the steps she will take and the supports that will put in place to enable world class and up and coming dancers to train and to ensure the sector will survive and thrive through the current level 5 restrictions and the Living with Covid Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37388/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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My Department provides significant funding to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ), which is the largest organisation involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music and Irish dancing.  It has hundreds of branches in every Irish county including in small towns and villages.  My Department provides annual funding to CCÉ for its work in the protection and promotion of Irish Dance, Irish traditional music and culture. In 2020, €1.6m was allocated to CCE.  As part of my response to the COVID-19 crisis, I allocated additional funding of €400,000 to CCÉ for business stabilisation, bringing the full CCÉ allocation in 2020 to €2m.

I understand that CCÉ has been successful in operating on-line, running a virtual Scoil Éigse programme during the year with almost 900 students and 37 tutors participating in various instrumental music, singing, Irish dancing and Irish language classes.

My Department does not have responsibility for oversight of the commercial provision of Irish dancing in the State.  Commercial service providers in this context may qualify for the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government, at Level 3 or higher.  The CRSS  is designed to assist those businesses whose trade has been significantly impacted or temporarily closed as a result of the restrictions as set out in the government’s ‘Living with COVID-19’ Plan.  The scheme applies to businesses where government restrictions prohibit or reduce access by customers to their business premises.  Applications can be made to the Revenue Commissioners and details of the scheme, including examples and guidance on the operation of the scheme, is on the Revenue website.