David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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87. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the uptake of support by county from the tourism business continuity scheme since its introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2325/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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In Budget 2021, I secured €55 million for Fáilte Ireland's Tourism Business Continuity Scheme and a further €50m in Budget 2022.  Additionally in 2021, €10m was paid by Fáilte Ireland under the Coach Tourism Business Continuity Scheme and €10m under The Ireland Based Inbound Agents Business Continuity Scheme.

The purpose of the funding provided through the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme has been to support strategic tourism businesses to survive through the pandemic and help drive the recovery of tourism.   There have been five phases of the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme in 2021 which ran from February to September. The various phases of the Scheme provided a direct financial contribution to support business continuity plans and contribute towards fixed costs.

Phase One supported businesses that were ineligible to receive the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) such as outdoor tourism activity providers, tourism golf courses, hop-on hop-off tourism bus tour operators, cruise hire companies, tourism boat tour operators, visitor attractions, and caravan and camping and outdoor accommodation providers.  I am happy to confirm that that more than €7.6m was provided to 280 successful applicants in this phase.

Phase Two supported the tourism transport sector as it was deemed a strategically important sector that enables visitors to access the geographically dispersed Irish tourism offering.  This Phase has seen grants amounting to over €13.3m awarded to 201 applicants.

Phase One Plus, which is the third Phase of the Scheme, is a continuation of the earlier Phase One.  This phase supported certain tourism businesses that were ineligible or not included in Phase One, or who had missed the deadline.  Under Phase One Plus €1.6m has been provided to 43 applicants.

Phases 4 and 5 of Fáilte Ireland’s Tourism Business Continuity Scheme closed for applications on Friday, 24 September.  Phase 4 supported attractions and activity tourism operators with Phase 5 supporting Fáilte Ireland-approved tourism accommodation providers. Under Phase Four, €5.8m has been provide to 165 applicants.  €24m has been provided to date under Phase 5 of the scheme with further payments to issue this month.

Fáilte Ireland recently announced their plans for the allocation in 2022 of €50million, provided in Budget 2022, for further phases of the Tourism Business Continuity Programme.

The first Scheme, the Strategic Tourism Transport Business Continuity Scheme 2022 was launched on the 11th January and aims to support the tourism transport sector. The strategic Ireland Based Inbound Agents scheme opened for applications on 12th January 2022.  Further schemes under the Tourism Business Continuity Programme for Attractions and Activity Providers and Tourism Accommodation Providers will commence in March 2022.

The Deputy asked for a breakdown of the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme's allocations and recipients by county.  I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide this information to the Deputy.  Please contact my private office if you have not receive a response within ten working days.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applications and grants under the live performance support scheme 3, LPSS3 and for the seasonal musical theatre and pantomime scheme, LPSS2, by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2500/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am fully aware of the severe difficulties being faced by live performers and all artists as a result of the pandemic and my Department and I have met with stakeholders regularly to understand these challenges and put in place appropriate supports for the sector. 

In December I was pleased to announce details of a €50 million suite of measures to support the live performance sector in 2022. As part of this suite of supports and, building on the success and exceptional demand for the Live Performance Support Scheme 2021 (LPSS 2021), a further strand of this scheme, called the LPSS 3, opened for applications on December 20th.  LPSS 3 will support events which were due to be staged in December 2021 and January 2022 and have been curtailed, cancelled or rescheduled due to the restrictions on audience capacity at live performances at 50% and a closing time of 8pm. 

In addition to LPSS 3, further supports will also be provided for the sector in 2022, including;

- Another strand of the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 4), to support performances being staged from February 2022 to June 2022. Further information, including guidelines for this scheme will be made available in the coming weeks.

- Another round of the MEBAS (Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme) scheme due to be announced shortly, this scheme is specifically to support small music and entertainment businesses which do not operate out of a rateable premises;

- €5m for Local Authorities to support local artists and performances through the LLPSS (Local Live Performance Support Scheme).  This scheme in particular has provided thousands of hours of employment for local musicians, artists and crews.

- €5m to continue the capital supports scheme (CECGS) to venues, including for ventilation upgrades and other COVID adaptations

- €1m for the Saint Patrick's Festival 2022

The LPSS 3 scheme will remain open for applications until January 31st and LPSS 2 just closed for applications yesterday at 1pm. On that basis it is too early for me to give further details on the applications and the county they have come from until the assessments of the applications have been completed.  That detail should be available in the coming weeks once the evaluation process has been completed.

LPSS and LLPSS 2021 funded thousands of hours of employment for artists, musicians and crew in 2021.  I am confident the schemes will provide further employment opportunities in 2022.

I am committed to supporting the live performance and nightclub sector as they journey through a difficult and unprecedented phase of business operations.  I will continue to review the supports for the sector on an ongoing basis.