Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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556. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific supports she will put in place to assist the 43 weekly newspapers nationwide whose advertising revenue has dropped due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14028/21]

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. 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.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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557. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to introduce targeted financial supports for lighting, sound and audiovisual engineering companies in the entertainment sector which have been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic but which were not eligible for the tourism business continuity scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14288/21]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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558. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the frequency with which the flat payments of either €2,500 or €5,000 promised under the recently announced music entertainment business assistance scheme will be paid to eligible businesses; if these flat payments will be backdated to take into account the fact that these businesses had little or no financial support for the first 12 months of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14289/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 558 together.

In Budget 2021, an amount of €50m was provided for the live entertainment sector.  Recently, I was pleased to announce the allocation of this funding by way of a suite of measures to support those in the live entertainment Sector .

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. The pilot LPSS was widely welcomed and very successful, with many artists, including lighting sound and  audiovisual creatives getting employment in the weeks running up to Christmas.  The main criticism was that many in the sector did not benefit from the scheme as the amount available was just €5m.  Given that the new scheme amounts to five times the level of the pilot, I am confident that funding will now reach right across the live performance sector.  

I have also made an allocation of €14m available for a new scheme to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses, specifically musicians and related crew, 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 once-off flat payments in 2021:

- €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.

Under the scheme, musicians, singers, lighting and sound crew and audio  equipment suppliers -  whether sole traders, partnerships or incorporated entities - operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector will be eligible to apply. The scheme will open when the necessary administrative and IT systems are in place.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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559. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide the hospitality and tourism sector at least one month's notice for when they will be allowed to reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14315/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am aware of the issues faced by the tourism and hospitality industry, including the difficulties posed by ongoing COVID-19-related restrictions, and understand why the tourism and hospitality sector would like greater notice of and certainty around reopening.  Nonetheless 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.  The current public health advice is that it is too early to say how and when other restrictions might be eased given current uncertainties. 

In line with COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021 – The Path Ahead, the Government 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.  Government will meet in advance of 5th of April to review the level of restrictions for the following period.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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561. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she is taking to ensure that one-off payments to support artists and support crews does not come from existing or announced arts funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14317/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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571. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason music and entertainment workers and businesses with a turnover of less than €20,000 will not be eligible for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme. [15030/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 571 together.

In Budget 2021, an amount of €50m was provided for the live entertainment sector.  Recently, I was pleased to announce the allocation of this funding by way of a 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. The pilot LPSS was widely welcomed and very successful, with many artists, including lighting sound and  audiovisual creatives getting employment in the weeks running up to Christmas.  The main criticism was that many in the sector did not benefit from the scheme as the amount available was just €5m. Given that the new scheme amounts to five times the level of the pilot, I am confident that funding will now reach right across the live performance sector.  

An allocation of €14m will be made available for a new scheme to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses, specifically musicians and related crew, 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.

Under the scheme, musicians, singers, lighting and sound crew and audio  equipment suppliers -  whether sole traders, partnerships or incorporated entities - operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector will be eligible to apply. The scheme will open when the necessary administrative and IT systems are in place.  The eligibility threshold of €20,000 aims to strike an appropriate balance having regard to other available supports and the need to reach as many professional musicians and crew as possible.