Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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257. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the minimum turnover of €50,000 was included in the criteria for the tourism business continuity scheme; the funding that will be made available for businesses that fall outside this criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7457/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The business continuity scheme for strategic businesses tourism sector is administered by Fáilte Ireland. It is focused on addressing the fixed costs of those businesses that are ineligible for the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS).

It is one of a range of supports that have been introduced for the tourism sector since last July both at a sectorial level, for example the Fáilte Ireland Adaptation Grant, the Inbound Tour Operators Scheme and the Coach Tour Operators Scheme, and as part of wider horizontal supports, in particular the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the CRSS and the ReStart Grant Scheme.

I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for further details on the business continuity scheme including the rationale for the eligibility criteria. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department or an agency under her remit has considered action to assist individual clubs with their costs; if she will ensure that sports clubs’ large direct payments, for example, insurance premiums, will be eligible for assistance in future Covid-19 funding; if she will examine the issue of sports clubs that were assisted in 2020 but are now ruled out as not eligible in the new Covid restrictions support scheme given that they will be in difficulty in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6330/21]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the situation regarding sports clubs that received funding (details supplied) in 2020 but that are now ruled out as ineligible under the Covid restrictions support scheme will be reviewed; if the difficulties of sports clubs will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6331/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 259 together.

A Covid-19 funding package of €85 million was provided last year to support the sport sector. This significant investment benefited all levels of the sport sector, including thousands of grassroots clubs across the country, and provided some certainty for sporting organisations in their planning for 2021.

I fully recognise that the financial and operational challenges associated with Covid-19 will continue well into 2021 and that many clubs will find themselves in financial difficulty again this year. Additional funding of €26 million was allocated for Sport Ireland in Budget 2021 which will ensure that we can continue to support our valued sport sector. This includes funding to provide for supports to the sector to meet the ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Decisions in relation to how funding will be allocated and the criteria to be applied will be made by Sport Ireland in due course.

In that regard, Sport Ireland is in ongoing communication with the National Governing Bodies of sport and is assessing the financial needs of the sector for the year ahead. In addition. I am engaging with the National Governing Bodies both bilaterally and through the Covid-19 Sports Monitoring Group, which met as recently as Thursday 28 January, in regard to any supports which may be required in the period ahead.