Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

496. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a breakdown by heading (details supplied) of the additional Covid-19 funding provided in the budget 2021; the amount of that funding that has been spent to date; the amount expected to be spent by the end of 2021; and the amount that will not be spent by the end of 2021, in tabular form. [31060/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The gross total allocation for my Department in 2021 €1,081,818,000. Details of all allocations are set out by programme area and by subhead in the Revised Estimates Volume 2021 (REV2021) published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on its website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates.

REV2021 allocations recognise the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the sectors under the aegis of my Department as well as the impact of Brexit – they also reflect the commitments contained in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future. However, there is no specific categorisation of funding allocations within programme areas other than by subhead.

Details of all expenditure by my Department and all Government departments are made available by the Department of Finance on a monthly basis at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/c1b65-fiscal-monitors-2021/

Total gross voted expenditure for my Department to 31 May 2021 amounts to €273.68m. This figure is provisional as all expenditure within my Department's Vote is subject to an ongoing internal verification and monitoring process to ensure the best use of available financial resources. Adjustments may fall to be made between subheads as part of this process and all figures are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

While it is too early to accurately forecast the full end of year outturn, I can advise that no significant savings are envisaged at present. All expenditure within my Department's vote will continue to be carefully monitored between now and year end to ensure the best use of available financial resources.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

497. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a breakdown of headings (details supplied) of the additional Brexit funding provided in the budget 2021; the amount of that funding that has been spent to date; the amount expected to be spent by the end of 2021; and the amount that will not be spent by the end of 2021. [31061/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The gross total allocation for my Department in 2021 €1,081,818,000. Details of all allocations are set out by programme area and by subhead in the Revised Estimates Volume 2021 (REV2021) published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on its website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates

REV2021 allocations recognise the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the sectors under the aegis of my Department as well as the impact of Brexit – they also reflect the commitments contained in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future. However, there is no specific categorisation of funding allocations within programme areas other than by subhead.

Details of all expenditure by my Department and all Government departments are published by the Department of Finance on a monthly basis at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/c1b65-fiscal-monitors-2021/

Total gross voted expenditure for my Department to 31 May 2021 amounts to €273.68m. This figure is provisional as all expenditure within my Department's Vote is subject to an ongoing internal verification and monitoring process to ensure the best use of available financial resources. Adjustments may fall to be made between subheads as part of this process and all figures are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

While it is too early to accurately forecast the full end of year outturn, I can advise that no significant savings are envisaged at present. All expenditure within my Department's vote will continue to be carefully monitored between now and year end to ensure the best use of available financial resources.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

498. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a breakdown of headings (details supplied) of the additional core funding provided in Budget 2021; and the amount of funding that was allocated, spent and carried over. [31062/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The gross total allocation for my Department in 2021 €1,081,818,000. Details of all allocations are set out by programme area and by subhead in the Revised Estimates Volume 2021 (REV2021) published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on its website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates

REV2021 allocations recognise the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the sectors under the aegis of my Department as well as the impact of BREXIT – they also reflect the commitments contained in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future. However, there is no specific categorisation of funding allocations within programme areas other than by subhead.

Details of any unspent capital monies in 2020 carried over into 2021 are also outlined in REV2021, together with the specifics of the areas in which the savings arose in 2020 and are being applied in 2021.

Details of all expenditure by my Department and all Government departments are published by the Department of Finance on a monthly basis at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/c1b65-fiscal-monitors-2021/

Total gross expenditure for my Department to 31 May 2021 amounts to €273.68m. This figure is provisional as all expenditure within my Department's Vote is subject to an ongoing internal verification and monitoring process to ensure the best use of available financial resources. Adjustments may fall to be made between subheads as part of this process and all figures are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

While it is too early to accurately forecast the full end of year outturn, I can advise that no significant savings are envisaged at present. All expenditure within my Department's vote will continue to be carefully monitored between now and year end to ensure the best use of available financial resources.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

499. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total allocation for her Department in 2021 broken down under the headings Core, Brexit and Covid-19 funding; the amount of that funding that has been spent to date; the amount expected to be spent by the end of 2021; and the funding that will be carried over to 2022, in tabular form. [31063/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The gross total allocation for my Department in 2021 is €1,081,818,000. Details of all allocations are set out by programme area and by subhead in the Revised Estimates Volume 2021 (REV2021) published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on its website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates

REV2021 allocations recognise the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the sectors under the aegis of my Department as well as the impact of BREXIT – they also reflect the commitments contained in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future. However, there is no specific categorisation of funding allocations within programme areas other than by subhead.

A number of schemes will be implemented in 2021 in direct response to the COVID-19 Pandemic - these include:

- €50m in respect of a Business Continuity Fund being administered by Fáilte Ireland;

- €50m in respect of a variety of supports for the Live Entertainment sector including a 2021 iteration of the very successful 2020 Pilot Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS) and the recently announced Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS);

- €15m in supports for sports and recreation services via Sport Ireland.

The Government's response to the impact of the pandemic on the sector and the economy generally is comprised of a broad range of supports delivered across a range of Departments. In addition to direct intervention measures introduced by my Department the Government has ensured the availability of horizontal supports that are critical to the survival of many in our sectors. These include the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and the Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid (SBASC), all of which continue to be key to supporting all sectors thorough this crisis.

Details of all expenditure by my Department and all Government departments are published by the Department of Finance on a monthly basis at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/c1b65-fiscal-monitors-2021/

Total gross voted expenditure for my Department to 31 May 2021 amounts to €273.68m. This figure is provisional as all expenditure within my Department's Vote is subject to an ongoing internal verification and monitoring process to ensure the best use of available financial resources. Adjustments may fall to be made between subheads as part of this process and all figures are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

While it is too early to accurately forecast the full end of year outturn, I can advise that no significant savings are envisaged at present. All expenditure within my Department's vote will continue to be carefully monitored between now and year end to ensure the best use of available financial resources.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

500. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the additional allocation that has been made to her Department under the Economic Recovery Plan announced on 1 June 2021; and if she will provide an itemised breakdown detailing the additional funding allocated to each area or project under her Department’s remit under the plan.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31064/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government’s recently announced Economic Recovery Plan sets out a framework for recovery as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, and pays particular attention to sectors most impacted, such as tourism and hospitality, live events and the arts. The Economic Recovery Plan responds to the commitments made in the Programme for Government in charting a path to recovery from the challenge of COVID-19.

Under the Economic Recovery Plan, Government extended the period during which a range of horizontal and business supports will be available to enterprises and workers in all sectors of the economy, including Tourism, Arts and Culture, Sport, Media and those working in Gaeltacht communities.

- Extending the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS). Revisions will see payments for businesses reopening of up to €30,000.

- Extending the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme to 31 December.

- Extending the Pandemic Unemployment Payment beyond 30 June 2021.

- Extending the Commercial Rates Waiver to end-September 2021.

- Broadening of eligibility criteria for the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID-19, which opens the scheme up to businesses in non-rated premises.

- The ERP sets out the intention to introduce a new, additional and more streamlined business support scheme in September 2021, called the Business Resumption Support Scheme.

In addition to horizontal supports, the Economic Recovery Planincludes a package of sectoral supports for the Tourism, Live Events and the Arts and Culture.

For the live events, arts and culture sectors, I opened applications for the new €14 million Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme last week, on 9 June. This payment is targeted at helping not only bands and musicians, but suppliers and music businesses. I also recently announced 237 grant allocations under the €25m Live Performance Support Scheme.

A separate €11.5m new fund for the entertainment industry, including festivals, conferencing and large events has been agreed between myself and the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. This Events Sector Covid Support Scheme will support SMEs that are not eligible for the CRSS.

I am also delighted that the National Economic Recovery Plan includes a commitment for Government to prioritise a Basic Income guarantee pilot scheme for artists. This was a key recommendation of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce, and I will bring forward a proposal following the report of the Arts and Culture Recovery Oversight Group in July.

I also recently confirmed the release of funding for local authorities with €5m to support live music in villages and towns across the country. Amounts of €285,000 are now available to the Dublin local authorities, and €143,000 to other local authorities to facilitate programming of outdoor live performances over the summer months, animating town centres for local communities as public health considerations permit. Local Authorities and hospitality businesses can also benefit from Fáilte Ireland's Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme, which will facilitate?greater capacity in?outdoor dining?by supporting the upgrade and enhancement of streets and public spaces, and implementing weather-proofing solutions which will facilitate year-round outdoor dining.

In addition to benefiting from revised and extended horizontal supports, the Economic Recovery Plan also provides the following additional interventions for the Tourism sector:

- An Extension of the 9% VAT rate to September 2022. This will continue to act as a stimulus for the sector as it moves towards recovery.

- The Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity Scheme, which will continue to support businesses not covered by the CRSS.

- An extension of the commercial rates waiver to September 2021.

This will provide tourism and hospitality businesses with much-need clarity that will enable them to plan longer-term with confidence and accept bookings. Government also recognises that as long as physical distancing remains a public health requirement, further supports may be needed for these sectors.

These supports will augment the work already being undertaken by Údarás na Gaeltachta, Fáilte Ireland, and Screen Ireland in supporting Gaeltacht companies, the Tourism and Hospitality sector, and the audiovisual industry to withstand the full impact of the pandemic and position them for growth in the coming years.

I will continue to work with colleagues across Government to ensure that the sectors covered by my Department are supported in their recovery as we reopen our society and our economy.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

501. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an itemised breakdown of moneys allocated to her Department, including the amounts allocated, spent and carried over in each of the years 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [31065/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Details of all allocations in respect of my Department for 2020 and 2021 are set out by programme area and by subhead in the Revised Estimates Volumes for the years in question published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on its website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates

Details of all expenditure for my Department during 2020, by programme area and by subhead, will be contained in the Annual Appropriation Account, due to be published by the Comptroller and Auditor General later this year. In the interim, details of total gross expenditure in respect of my Department and all Government Departments are published by the Department of Finance and available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/092b67-fiscal-monitor-december-2020/.

Details of total gross voted expenditure in the period up to 31 May 2021 are available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/b9bc4-fiscal-monitor-may-2021/

These figures are provisional as all expenditure within my Department's Vote is subject to an ongoing internal verification and monitoring process to ensure the best use of available financial resources. Adjustments may fall to be made between subheads as part of this process and all figures are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.