Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

271. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the levels under the COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead plan wedding bands and musicians will be allowed to perform at weddings and wedding receptions; and the levels under which loud music and dancing will be permitted at wedding receptions. [11500/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government recently agreed that the current public health restrictions will be extended until 5 April. The Government's clear message at the present time is for people to stay in their homes, unless necessary for those essential reasons set out in the public health regulations.

I understand the difficulties these restrictions pose for couples on their special day and the impact on musicians and bands. However, COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease, which spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. In certain settings, such as weddings, higher noise levels due to music, can force people into close proximity, requiring them to raise their voices or shout to communicate thus increasing the risk of spreading virus to others. Dancing is also problematic given the close contact involved. Such activities present a higher risk of transmission of COVID-19. Accordingly the Government has decided that no live or loud music is permitted at weddings and this is reflected in the relevant tourism sectoral guidelines published on the Fáilte Ireland website.

Last week, the Government published the COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021 – The Path Aheadand agreed that the public health restrictions will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. The public health advice is that it is too early to say how and when restrictions should be eased given current uncertainties. Government will meet in advance of the 5th of April to review the level of restrictions. The focus of the assessment, based on the public health advice, will be on achieving the following before any significant easing of measures is contemplated:

1. Disease prevalence (case numbers/incidence) is brought to much lower levels that can be managed and controlled by public health and that the reproduction number (“R” number) is such that we can be confident that we can continue to suppress the disease e.g. at or below 1.

2. Hospital and critical care occupancy are reduced to low levels to protect the health service and allow for the safe resumption of non-COVID-19 care.

3. Ongoing and steady progress on the vaccination programme such that the most vulnerable are protected through vaccination.

4. Emerging information on variants of concern.

Any easing of measures should be slow and gradual with sufficient time between phases to assess impact and to respond if the epidemiological situation was to deteriorate. It will take account of emerging international and national evidence and experience and with a specific focus on supporting mental health and wellbeing.

In regard to the levels at which the activity in question will be permitted, Public Health advice is that the Framework for Restrictive Measures continues to provide an appropriate mechanism to guide decision-making. As set out in The Path Ahead, this will continue to be applied in a flexible manner, adapting measures to address the public health risk at a given time in addition to any specific contextual considerations.

Officials in my Department have also recently met with the Wedding Bands Association, as partof the ongoing engagement with the live performance sector. It is hoped that further details and decisions in relation to supports for the live performance sector will be announced shortly.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

272. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has considered the proposal for a Covid music and entertainment grant submitted to her Department by an organisation (details supplied). [11501/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

273. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the findings of the survey conducted by an organisation (details supplied); and the efforts she is undertaking to provide immediate relief for these workers. [11502/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

274. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the findings of the survey conducted by an organisation (details supplied); and the efforts to ensure that mental health supports are provided specifically to workers in the sector. [11503/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 272, 273 and 274 together.

I am acutely aware of the challenges facing all musicians who rely on live performance to sustain their livelihoods on foot of necessary public health restrictions.An allocation of €50 million was made in Budget 2021 for the live performance sector. It is envisaged that the rollout of this funding would include measures such as a grant scheme along the lines of the pilot "Live Performance Support Scheme."

Officials have gained valuable insights from these schemes and will apply these learnings when allocating funding this year. Other measures are also under consideration including those which have emerged from engagement with the sector and with stakeholders. This engagement is ongoing and included recent meetings between officials of my Department and the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland. It is hoped that further details and decisions will be announced shortly.

In December I was also pleased to announce funding of €230,000 for the expansion of the Minding Creative Minds Wellbeing and Support Services to the entire Irish creative sector, both home and abroad. This innovative 24/7 wellbeing support programme provides the Irish creative community with access to experienced counsellors and psychotherapists who can offer short-term intervention and advice covering practical, day-to-day issues that cause anxiety and stress. Details of these services are available at this link . This funding comes after a recent recommendation from the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce which specifically highlighted the need for wellbeing supports for the sector.

My colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has in place a range of business and financial supports available to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and these can be viewed at the following link . This includes a new scheme called the COVID Business Aid Scheme (CBAS) which is aimed at those businesses who fall outside the eligibility requirements for CRSS. Supports such as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the CRSS will continue to be made available to those impacted. The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is also available to help maintain people in jobs.