Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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470. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the €270,063,000 current expenditure on arts and culture programmes outlined in Budget 2021 that consisted of once-off expenditure to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic; and the baseline expenditure figure once Covid-19 contingency-specific allocations are excluded. [31028/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The REV2021 current allocation of €270m for Arts & Culture represents an increase of over 40% on the comparable figure for 2020.

The Arts & Culture sector has been amongst those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic across our economy. The crisis has utterly changed the landscape in which the sector operates and the 2021 allocation for the programme area recognises the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the sector.

The individual subhead allocations also reflect the various commitments contained in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future -including Commemorations, Culture Investment, Creative Ireland, Culture 2025 and investment in the Film / Audio Visual sector.

There is no specific categorisation of funding allocations within this or any other programme area across my Department’s Vote, other than by subhead.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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471. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the €60,732,000 capital expenditure on arts and culture programmes outlined in Budget 2021 that consisted of once-off expenditure to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic; and the baseline expenditure figure once Covid-19 contingency-specific allocations are excluded.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31029/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The REV2021 capital allocation of €60.732m for Arts & Culture represents an increase of 3% over the comparable figure for 2020. There is no specific categorisation of funding allocations within this or any other programme area across my Department’s Vote, other than by subhead.

The Arts & Culture sector has been amongst those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic across our economy. The crisis has utterly changed the landscape in which the sector operates and the 2021 allocation for the programme area recognises the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the sector.

The individual subhead allocations also reflect the various commitments contained in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future -including Commemorations, Capital Investment in Cultural Infrastructure, Creative Ireland, Culture 2025 and investment in the Film / Audio Visual sector.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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474. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the €130 million expenditure allocation to the Arts Council outlined in Budget 2021 that has been spent to date; the amount due to be spent by 31 December 2021; and the amount expected to be carried over into 2022. [31032/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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477. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the €50 million allocated to the Arts Council in Budget 2021 was a once-off Covid-19 contingency allocation for 2021 only; and if this allocation is independent of Covid-19 specific funding and to be understood as a new element of her Department’s core funding allocation to the Arts Council. [31035/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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478. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the €9 million increase in funding allocated to the audio-visual industry in Budget 2021 was a once-off Covid-19 contingency allocation for 2021 only; and if this allocation is independent of Covid-19 specific funding and to be understood as a new element of her Department’s baseline core funding allocation to the audio-visual industry. [31036/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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479. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the €9 million increase in expenditure allocation to the audio-visual industry outlined in Budget 2021 has been spent to date; the amount due to be spent by 31 December 2021; and the amount expected to be carried over into 2022. [31037/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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480. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the €11 million increase in funding allocated to the national cultural institutions in Budget 2021 was a once-off Covid-19 contingency allocation for 2021 only; and if this allocation is independent of Covid-19 specific funding and to be understood as a new element of her Department’s baseline core funding allocation to the national cultural institutions. [31038/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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481. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the €11 million increase in expenditure allocation to the national cultural institutions outlined in Budget 2021 that has been spent to date; the amount due to be spent by 31 December 2021; and the amount expected to be carried over into 2022. [31039/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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482. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the €9 million increase in funding allocated to Screen Ireland in Budget 2021 was a once-off Covid-19 contingency allocation for 2021 only; and if this allocation is independent of Covid-19 specific funding and to be understood as a new element of the Department’s baseline core funding allocation to Screen Ireland. [31040/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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483. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the €11 million increase in expenditure allocation to Screen Ireland outlined in Budget 2021 that has been spent to date; the amount due to be spent by 31 December 2021; and the amount expected to be carried over into 2022. [31041/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 474, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482 and 483 together.

Budget allocations including allocations to State Agencies are determined as part of the annual estimates and budgetary cycle each year. Expenditure across all programme areas is monitored closely on an ongoing basis and at present, no overall savings are anticipated.

The total allocation to the Arts Council in the 2021 Revised Estimates Volume is €130m which is an increase of 62% over the amount initially allocated for 2020. All of the funding allocated in 2021 is expected to be spent by 31 December 2021 and there are no plans to carry any amounts forward to 2022. The Arts Council announced details of its investment plans last February and this included a range of initiatives as follows:-

- Strategic Funding to over 100 key arts organisations across the country, (Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, the Irish Chamber Orchestra in Limerick, Macnas in Galway);

- Arts Centres funding to up 43 arts centres nationwide (An Grianán in Donegal , Garage Theatre in Monaghan, Dunamaise, Co Laois)

- Funding to arts organisations under Arts Grant Funding programme;

- Festivals Investment Scheme;

- Bursaries for individual artists

- Additional funding for commissions and projects.

- New Agility Award

- Creative Schools’ programme with over 150 schools participating

Further details of these investment plans can be accessed at the following link

In terms of Screen Ireland, the Government’s objectives for capital investment in the cultural sectors are guided by ‘Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018-2027’. The total allocation to Screen Ireland in the 2021 Revised Estimates Volume is €30.093m. While this is an increase of €9.027m on the original 2020 allocation, it represents an increase of €6.027m on the final 2020 allocation due to an additional amount allocated by Supplementary Estimate in autumn 2020. All of the funding allocated in 2021 is expected to be spent by 31 December 2021 and there are no plans to carry any amounts forward to 2022.

As part of Budget 2021 an allocation of €8m has been made to the National Concert Hall to allow for the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ. While the transfer of the NSO has not yet been completed, it is intended that the transfer of the orchestra will be completed as early as possible in 2021. In terms of all additional funding allocated to the National Cultural Institutions as part of Budget 2021, it is expected that this additional allocation, which is independent of Covid-19 specific funding, will be expended by the end of the year.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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475. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the €50 million expenditure allocation to live entertainment supports outlined in Budget 2021 that has been spent to date; the amount due to be spent by 31 December 2021; and the amount expected to be carried over into 2022. [31033/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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476. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the €50 million allocated to live entertainment supports in Budget 2021 was a once-off Covid-19 contingency allocation for 2021 only; and if this allocation is independent of Covid-19 specific funding and to be understood as a new element of her Department’s core funding allocation for arts and culture. [31034/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 476 together.

€50 million was allocated to live entertainment in Budget 2021 in recognition of the grave impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on the live performance sector.

A part of the €50 million 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. There was a high level of interest in this scheme, with over 400 applications received by the closing date of 14 April. The assessment of applications has now finished and applicants have been notified of the outcome of their applications. 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 been 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.

This scheme sees support offered by way of three levels of once-off flat payments;

- €2,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €20,000 - €50,000 with minimum business costs of €3,000 incurred from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2021;

- €4,000 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €50,001- €100,000 with minimum business costs of €6,000 from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2021;

- €5,000 for businesses with VAT-exclusive turnover in excess of €100,000 with minimum business costs of €7,500 from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2021

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 is now receiving application following wide consultation with the sector and applications are being received and processed. Further details in relation to this scheme, including guidelines and the application portal can be found on my department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/service/3cc71-music-and-entertainment-business-assistance-scheme/.

All local authorities have received allocations under the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme sharing an allocation of €5 million for live performances in summer 2021 to animate town centres, should public health considerations permit. This will allow for the procurement by all local authorities of performances by local performers. Performances can be recorded or streamed if health restrictions prevent live events.

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.

Funding allocations for the above schemes will be spent before the end of this year and it is not planned to carry any funding into 2022. Allocations to Vote 33 the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for 2022 will be determined in the context of Budget 2022. As Minister, I intend to put forward the case for needs of all the sectors in my portfolio.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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484. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there has been a corresponding saving of €8 million made at RTÉ to match the €8 million allocated to the National Symphony Orchestra now that its funding is being transferred to the National Concert Hall; if funding of the National Symphony Orchestra is currently the responsibility of RTÉ or the National Concert Hall; and when the transfer is expected to be completed. [31042/21]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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502. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there has been a correspondence saving of €8 million allocated to the National Symphony Orchestra now that its funding is being transferred to the National Concert Hall; if funding of the National Symphony Orchestra is currently the responsibility of RTÉ or the National Concert Hall; and when the transfer is expected to be completed. [31066/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 502 together.

As part of Budget 2021 an allocation of €8m has been made to the National Concert Hall to allow for the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ.

As the transfer of the NSO has not yet been completed responsibility for the funding of the orchestra remains the responsibility of RTÉ.

An Oversight Group has been established with a view to identifying and addressing the relevant issues to enable the successful transfer of the NSO from the remit of RTÉ to the remit of the NCH. The group has met on several occasions over the last number of years. In addition, a Working Group, as a subset of the oversight group, has being examining the detailed issues involved in the proposed transfer of the orchestra.

A number of issues are currently being finalised and it is hoped that the transfer of the orchestra can be completed as early as possible.