Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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312. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if swimming lessons will be allowed to continue in level 3 if comprehensive protective measures are in place (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38227/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Government's Resilience and Recovery Plan 2020-2021 provides for indoor individual training only at Level 3. It also states explicitly that there should be no exercise or dance classes at this level. My Department has issued guidance to the sports and leisure sector confirming that group swimming lessons are not permitted in Level 3. Only one-to-one swimming instruction is permitted in Level 3.

While the Government fully understands the benefits that sport brings to people's overall health and well-being, the measures in place to suppress the disease transmission are intended to minimise the risks to public health while striking the right balance in prioritising and protecting some activities over others. Such activities include health and social care services, education and other essential needs, work and economic activity, and other key societal interests (insofar as possible) such as sports and important family gatherings.

Each level of the framework contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering risk of transmission in alignment with the risk level at that time. The set of measures, individually, do not comprise a list of activities or places which are equally safe. Instead, they are “baskets” of measures which are informed by public health understanding of the disease. The measures in place for each level reflect the prevailing disease situation and recognise that we can and must prioritise some activities over others.

While I am pleased to note that COVID-19 data indicates some improvements across a range of indicators, which gives us hope that the epidemiological situation is once again coming under control, it is too early at this point to consider the easing of restrictions, including those currently applying to swimming pools.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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314. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the recent grants to support cultural activities during Covid-19 have catered to the needs of the events sector that does not own premises; and if she has had discussions with the sector regarding its plight. [38342/20]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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327. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if supports will be made available such as an adaption of the live events fund of €50 million to event management companies that due to the nature of their business and not having a physical premises have been unable to avail of the Covid restrictions support scheme and the industry is at serious issue of collapse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38797/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 327 together.

Earlier in the month I announced the recipients of a pilot Live Performance Support Scheme to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters to plan live performances across the country over the coming months, with a total of 59 organisations benefiting from the scheme. The main objective of the scheme is to provide employment opportunities in the live performance sector while also complying with public health protection measures. Grants ranged from €10,000 to €400,000. The funds will support a variety of live events planned including concerts, pantomimes, theatre productions, festivals, outdoor performances and comedy events.

In many cases, parts of grants to promoters and producers of live events would be used to hire from services from SME event companies such as those supplying sound and lighting technical expertise.

The following eligibility and criteria applied to this pilot scheme :

- Established commercial producers and promoters that create live performances and have a proven record of accomplishment in the live performance sector

- Proven track record of live performances undertaken in the past 3 years (2017-2019),

- Planning to hold a live performance event that will commence in 2020,

- Provide three years of financial accounts (from 2016),

- The applicant must be tax compliant,

- Not ordinarily funded by the public sector since 2017 (excluding Covid-19 supports),

- One application will be considered, initially, for each project promoter.

The scheme was heavily oversubscribed with over 100 applications seeking funding of over €16m for events which would be staged in the lead up to and during the 2020 festive period.

This was a pilot scheme and it was the first of its kind which was developed following consultation with the sector. The operation of this scheme will inform any future similar schemes. The Department is engaging with successful and unsuccessful applicants to assess the operation of the scheme in 2020 with a view to informing future schemes. It is expected that a scheme of this kind will be provided in 2021 as part of a suite of measures to be funded from the €50 million announced as part of Budget 2021.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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316. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the Covid-19 adaptation grant application process can be amended to allow retail outlets that do not have a wine licence to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38464/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The administration of the COVID-19 Adaptation Fund is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for further information and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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317. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the need to protect local newspapers and print media in view of the fall in advertising revenue associated with Covid-19. [38499/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Government has put in place a range of supports for all businesses which are available to the print and online sectors during health restrictions imposed by Covid-19. The production and publication of newspapers, journals and periodicals and the distribution of those publications has been listed as an essential service.

I met with representatives of the NUJ recently to hear their concerns and we agreed that my officials and I will continue to engage with them, with a view to ensuring a shared understanding of the challenges they face, and in order to protect and sustain this critically important sector.

The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the importance of a vibrant, diverse and independent media to our democracy and our cultural development. In this context we have expanded the remit of the Public Service Broadcasting Commission to become the Future of Media Commission, tasked with considering the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion. On 29 September 2020 the Government agreed the terms of reference and membership of the Future of Media Commission.

I look forward to receiving the Commission's Report on the completion of its work which will inform media policy including print media.