Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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331. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she plans to introduce a specific grant for individual businesses to allow them to adapt their premises to provide facilities for outdoor dining given that it is expected that outdoor dining will be central to the tourism market in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12537/21]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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345. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will request Fáilte Ireland to include counties such as Tipperary in the outdoor dining grant scheme as requested by an association (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12851/21]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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357. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she plans to request that Fáilte Ireland open the outdoor dining scheme to all counties including County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13508/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 331, 345 and 357 together.

All tourism funding schemes are designed and operated by Fáilte Ireland as the National Tourism Development Authority. With specific regard to outdoor dining, I understand that Fáilte Ireland is currently considering how best it could support outdoor dining experiences, including scoping out a proposed Outdoor Dining Scheme which has not yet been finalised or launched. I am advised that no final decisions have been made as to the parameters of the proposed scheme.

As the development of supports for outdoor dining experiences is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland, I have referred the Deputies' questions to the agency for further information. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she plans to publish the names of persons and companies involved in behind the scenes and production work who benefited from the live performance support scheme alongside the performer, venue and promoter recipients whose names were published in November 2020; the efforts that were made to ensure an equitable distribution of funding to ensure companies involved in multiple productions did not receive a disproportionate advantage compared to others struggling without work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12576/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The key aim of the pilot "Live Performance Support Scheme" was to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters of live performances to provide employment to workers in the creative industries while also producing high quality live performances for the public.

The grant funding allocated allowed venues, technicians, artists, producers, promoters and other creatives to ensure performances continued during COVID-19, while adhering to public safety guidelines, whatever level of lock-down restrictions or reduced capacities were in place.

The success of the pilot scheme can be seen in a recent report published by the “Live Venue Collective” who received over €1 million in funding under this pilot scheme. The collective stated in their report that they presented a total of 405 shows of the highest cultural quality, involving 2110 employees, 655 artists, over 416,259 online audience members and 24,000 minutes of digital content created. The Live Venue Collective report also published a full list of artists who received funding from their grant allocation.

It should also be noted that thousands of creatives were involved in the pilot scheme, right across Ireland, and a full list of recipients of grant funding and their locations has already been published on the Department website;

While the listing of all creatives is not being published by the Department, the Deputy will find the majority of the live streamed events supported by the LPSS free on line. These carry credits for performers and "behind the scenes" creatives, organisations and individuals and they can be viewed by everyone.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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333. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if recipients of the pilot live performance support scheme will be eligible for any future roll-out of the scheme; her plans to ensure those who did not benefit from the pilot scheme are not excluded again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12577/21]

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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334. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount allocated in relation to the live performance support scheme; if any of the original promised funding has been allocated to other industry-related proposals; and when the application process will be open to applicants. [12578/21]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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343. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which she will ensure that the €50 million to be provided for promoters, producers and live music venues will filter down to individual small businesses in this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12840/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 333, 334 and 343 together.

I was pleased yesterday to announce a new €50 million suite of measures to support those in the Live Entertainment Sector.

As part of this suite, an allocation of €25 million is being made available under the Live Performance Support Scheme 2021. This scheme builds on the successful outcomes of the pilot Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS) in 2020, which provided thousands of days of employment to hundreds of musicians, actors, crew and technicians and the valuable insights gained. This new scheme is aimed at commercial venues, producers and promoters in the culture sector and will support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres and continued high quality artistic output for the general public. Grant recipients of the pilot LPSS may apply under this new scheme. The scheme has been developed following consultation with the sector and will be managed directly by my Department. The Live Performance Support Scheme 2021 will be open for applications on 19th March 2021 and further information can be found on my Department's website.

An allocation of €5 million will also be made available to local authorities for outdoor live performances in summer 2021 to animate town centres, should public health considerations permit. This will allow for the procurement by local authorities of performances by local performers. Performances can be recorded or streamed if health restrictions prevent live events. Local authorities will be encouraged to engage events companies to develop and deliver a programme of performances.

As a further support measure for those in the live entertainment industry, an allocation of €14m will be made available for a new scheme to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19 and that do not qualify for other business supports. The main features of this new Music Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) will see support offered by way of two levels of flat payments:

- €2,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €20,000 - €100,000;

- €5,000 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover in excess of €100,000.

Self-employed businesses whether sole traders, partnerships and incorporated entities operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector are eligible to apply. The scheme will open when the necessary administrative and IT systems are in place.

€5 million will also be made available for a scheme of capital supports for the commercial live entertainment sector. This will be applied to supporting the installation of high quality recording and streaming facilities in venues through a competitive grant application process.

Up to €1 million has been allocated to the St Patrick's Festival 2021 for programming to support the employment of performers, producers, artists, technicians, creatives and support staff. With gatherings still restricted, SPF 2021 has curated a rich and dynamic programme of events involving hundreds of artists, musicians, performers, creators, and community organisations that will be broadcast on the St. Patrick’s Festival TV online channel over six days and nights, marking the national day.