Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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255. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date from which she is starting to accept applications for the €50 million announced in the budget to support the non-State funded live entertainment and events sector given that this is the only funding available to SMEs and sole traders that cannot receive the CRSS; if it will be launched in time to award funding from January or February 2021 to save businesses in the sector from closing permanently due to no targeted funds and no revenue since March 2020 because of the mandated shutdown; if it will award funding in time to allow larger-scale outdoor concerts and events in spring and-or summer 2021 to know now if they can access this fund to help with likely increased costs and reduced capacity (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41743/20]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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256. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason further information on the announced €50 million package for the commercial arts sector, which was broadly welcomed as part of budget 2021, has not been released (details supplied). [41744/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.

The €50 million allocated for the sector in 2021 will include measures for the commercial entertainment sector which will build on schemes launched under the July stimulus. Officials in my Department have gained further insights into the sector with the running of a number of schemes in recent months and learnings will be applied in allocating funding in 2021.

The response to and the demand for the Music Industry Stimulus Package and the pilot Live Performance Support Scheme was far in excess of what was anticipated, reflecting both the strength of the sector in Ireland as well as the current need for support in the absence of live performance income.

Funding will also see support for activities at community level leading to greater work opportunities for crew and venue workers nationwide while a scheme of capital grants for equipment will also operate in 2021 which will provide additional supports to a sector severely impacted by COVID-19.

My Department will announce details in the coming weeks how funding will be allocated. I am in agreement with the Deputy that the sector needs to be able to access this funding at the earliest possible opportunity and officials are working on this as a priority.