Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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344. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if supports are available or will be provided for businesses (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12844/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The July Stimulus and Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and fiscal measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors including the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) as well as the ReStart grants and tax warehousing provisions.

Most recently Fáilte Ireland launched the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme which will provide support to providers of?certain?tourism services who have been unable to qualify for assistance under the Government's Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS). It is designed to help?these?tourism businesses offset their fixed costs incurred last year and support them to continue operating through 2021.??I understand that the requirement for a minimum annual turnover of €50,000 to apply for that scheme is based on the likelihood that for businesses with turnover less than €50,000, non-payroll fixed costs will be sufficiently low to enable the owners furlough the business by availing of other state aids namely income supports such as PUP and EWSS.

I have asked Fáilte Ireland to examine this case and to make contact with them in regard to options for support.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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346. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the additional supports to be made available to local newspapers in view of the continuing lockdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12867/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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A strong and independent media sector is central to our parliamentary democracy, freedom of speech and to the provision of quality and impartial information, particularly in the context of Covid-19. I recognise the essential role that the print media plays in this regard and the particular value of local and regional newspapers in bringing communities together and sharing reliable and relevant local news. The production and publication of newspapers, journals and periodicals and the distribution of those publications has been listed as an essential service. The Government has put in place a range of supports for all businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which are available to local newspapers.

The sector faces a fall in revenue arising from the pandemic, but also longer term challenges as a result of changing patterns of media consumption, technology and shifts in advertising revenue.

In recognition of these longer term challenges, the Programme for Government provided for the establishment of the Future of Media Commission to consider the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion. The Commission, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, recently concluded a public consultation to which a number of stakeholders in the print sector have made submissions. The Commission is currently in the process of engaging with key stakeholders in a series of thematic dialogues. I look forward to receiving the Commission's Report on the completion of its work which will inform media policy, including print media, over the next 10 years.

In terms of specific supports for the sector, the Deputy will appreciate it is of particular importance in relation to media organisations to avoid any perception of Government interference or influence and the funding of newspapers is therefore a complex issue. I am however cognisant of the importance of this sector, and the financial issues which it currently faces.

Since I assumed formal responsibility for the media sector in September 2020, I have engaged in meetings with key stakeholders including Newsbrands, Local Ireland and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). Most recently I met with Local Ireland on Wednesday 17th February. My officials continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders in order to explore the issues facing the sector.