Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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303. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports available to independent community theatres to see them through the Covid-19 crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1064/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Primary support for the arts, including theatre, is delivered by the Arts Council, funding for which has increased steadily in recent years and reaches €130 million in 2021. The Arts Council, which is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003, operates within a published ten-year strategic framework entitled Making Great Art Work. The Arts Council supports and develops theatre in Ireland through grant funding, project awards, support to individual artists, and support to venues, publications and resource organisations. Further details  of can be accessed on the Arts Council’s decisions database which  gives a listing of 2008–2020 Arts Council funding decisions as follows; .

At the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, the Arts Council said it will honour all existing funding commitments, and allow grantees to draw down 90 percent of their funding to allow them fulfil in turn their own business commitments, especially to artists.

A range of measures were announced as part of Budget 2021 to support the arts and culture sectors and in particular the music and entertainment sectors. As mentioned previously Government funding to the Arts Council in 2021 will amount to €130m which is an increase of 62% over the amount initially allocated for 2020. Much of this funding is being allocated to the performance arts including those who have never before received funding from the Council.

The Council have in place a number of new and enhanced funding programmes which have been introduced in response to COVID-19. These include:

- enhanced commissioning, projects and bursary awards;

- an Emergency Stabilisation Fund;

- the COVID-19 Response Award;

- a Capacity Building Support Scheme;

-  a Professional Development Award;

- the COVID-19 Completion Funding Scheme;

My Department also operates a number of capital investment schemes in respect of cultural venues such as theatres.  A number of funding streams are provided from a €40m capital investment allocation for local arts and culture infrastructure contained in Project Ireland 2040.

In response to COVID-19, my Department opened a further stream (Stream D) of funding specifically for capital adaptations or equipment necessary to assist arts and culture organisations in re-opening. Under this stream capital funding is provided to assist in the re-opening of theatres, arts centres and culture venues as part of Project Ireland 2040. The measures are designed to support arts and culture facilities in preparation for staff, artists and audiences returning to venues to reopen in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business as well as the Return to Work Safety Protocols. There is a high degree of flexibility which will allow organisations to undertake necessary capital adaptations to their buildings so that they comply with the HSE COVID-19 related public health protection measures. Not-for-profit organisations with a clearly defined arts and cultural remit can apply for this Stream D.  Further details of these schemes along with eligibility criteria and other information, can be found at this link

The Deputy has made specific reference to community theatres and may wish to also know that the Department of Rural and Community Development funds a range of programmes and schemes to assist in rural and community development which are available to eligible community groups and organisations throughout the country. These schemes provide funding, support and assistance to communities at local level and include the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER programme; the Community Enhancement Programme, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme; the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Community Services Programme. Details of how to apply for these schemes are on the Government's website at the following link

Under the current Level 5 restrictions supports such as the PUP and the CRSS will continue to be made available to those impacted. Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is also available to help maintain people in jobs.Further details of the range of government supports available to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis can be viewed at the following link