Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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296. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the €50 million allocated to live events in Budget 2021 that has already been distributed to artists or event organisers; and when and the way in which the remaining allocation will reach artists and event organisers. [24178/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Recently, I was pleased to allocate €50 million to a suite of measures to assist the live performance sector. €25m has been allocated to Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021) which has now closed for applications. Over 400 applications had been received by the closing date of 14 April. Assessment of applications to the scheme is underway and the results will be announced shortly. LPSS 2021 builds on the successful pilot Live Performance Support Scheme in 2020, which provided thousands of days of employment to hundreds of musicians, actors, crew and technicians in tandem with a pipeline of high quality on-line much needed entertainment for Irish audiences. The 2021 scheme is aimed at supporting employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public.

An allocation of €14m is being made available for the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) 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 scheme 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, businesses including 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. This scheme has been developed following wide consultation with the sector. Administrative arrangements for this scheme are being finalised and it is hoped that it will open for applications this month.

An allocation of €5 million will be made available to local authorities for 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. This funding will be allocated shortly.

€5 million will also be made available for a scheme of capital supports for the commercial live entertainment sector.

Up to €1 million was allocated to the St Patrick's Festival 2021 for programming and it supported over 3,500 days of employment for performers, producers, artists, technicians, creatives and support staff. With gatherings still restricted, SPF 2021 curated a rich and dynamic programme of events involving hundreds of artists, musicians, performers, creators, and community organisations which was broadcast on the St. Patrick’s Festival TV online channel marking the national day.