Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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265. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of the €1.7 million music industry stimulus package grant scheme in terms of the amount spent on administrative costs and the amount that went directly to applicants through grants in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40366/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The €1.7 million allocated to the Music Industry Stimulus Package is broken down as follows:

*This Package, is being managed on behalf of the Department by First Music Contact (FMC) and under the terms of this agreement, €83,000 is the maximum allowed administration cost to manage the scheme, including a contracted assistant, honoraria for panellists, legal, audit and technical support costs.

The aim of the Music Industry Stimulus Package is to help sustain the Irish popular and commercial music sector as the cessation of live music performances has had a wide reaching effect on the music industry. The three elements of the Package are aimed at ensuring that musicians can continue to develop and share their work in the context of COVID restrictions. They cover (1) songwriting camps (2) recording and (3) album releases.

The response to the Music Industry Stimulus Package was far in excess of the level of funding available which meant that many strong applications could not be supported this year. It is my intention to develop this year's pilot schemes and commit further funding next year to support musicians.