Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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414. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the form of assessment that took place of the value for money of the cost of applications submitted for funding under the live performance support scheme in 2021. [50762/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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417. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an analysis will be undertaken on the breakdown of live performance funding provided in 2021 to ascertain the percentage of the millions of euro allocated that reached artists, performers, crew, and event management companies respectively. [50935/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 417 together.

As part of suite of measures to support the live entertainment sector, I allocated €25m to the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021).I was delighted to be in a position to fund 237 successful applications under this scheme, the details of which are available on my Department’s website. The grants awarded are helping support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public.

The key objectives of the scheme included the provision of employment opportunities both for artists and crews to ensure ongoing cultural activity in non-subsidised venues. LPSS 2021 is currently supporting events across the entire country, with live performances and events happening in every county.

Once this scheme concludes, all grantees will be required to complete a questionnaire which will collect relevant data including:

- employment days generated;

- production costs, and;

- artistic output.

This data will be collated and used to underpin an evaluation of the scheme which will assist in the planning of future supports for the sector.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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415. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason that types of live entertainment businesses deemed eligible for the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme has been restricted to businesses involved in music only, with no allowance for entertainers, such as dancers, magicians, comedians, circus performers and those working in the crew responsible for producing these forms of entertainment; her views on whether the description of the scheme is misleading in view of the fact that only music businesses may apply; and the supports that have been provided or will be provided to entertainment workers that have been and largely continue to be unable to work. [50933/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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416. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason that business costs were required of applicants to the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme and not for the Event Sector Covid Support Scheme. [50934/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.

I am acutely aware of the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the arts/culture and live entertainment sectors. To support the industry through this difficult period I have provided funding for a suite of measures designed to sustain and support live performance and employment opportunities in the sector.

As part of this suite of supports, an allocation of €25m was made available for the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021). I was delighted to be in a position to fund 237 successful applications under this scheme, the details of which are available on my Department’s website. This scheme builds on the successful pilot Live Performance Support Scheme in 2020, which provided thousands of days of employment to hundreds of actors, musicians, crew and technicians in tandem with a pipeline of high quality on-line much needed entertainment for Irish audiences. The grants awarded will help to support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres including theatre, music and circus performance.

The Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) was developed in consultation with the sector and the eligibility criteria 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. Under this scheme, self-employed businesses including sound crew, musicians, singers, lighting and audio equipment suppliers operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector are eligible to apply.

The grants are intended to provide a contribution towards businesses costs which arise even if the business is not operating e.g. insurance, rent etc. Therefore, details of business costs were required to determine eligibility.

The initial phase of the MEBAS scheme closed for applications on 30 September and I was pleased to launch a second phase of this scheme on 4th October.

The Events Sector Covid Support Scheme is different in both scope and scale. It is aimed at SMEs in the events sector which are not eligible for the CRSS and for whom MEBAS and the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID-19 will not make a significant contribution to fixed costs relative to the level of support that that would be available under CRSS. The eligibility for this scheme was based on demonstration of a loss of at least 75% of turnover during the time when Covid restrictions were in place relative to a businesses turnover in 2019, therefore business expenses were not relevant to the criteria of this scheme. Phase 2 of this scheme opened for applications on 7 October.

As part of Budget 2022 I have allocated €25m for continuing supports for the Live Entertainment Sector. This allocation will build on the supports provided by my Department during the pandemic. I will ensure that those funds are made available early in the new year and am confident that this funding will help drive employment opportunities and activity in the sector.