Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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63. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason there was a reduction in the budget allocation for arts and culture in budget 2023; the implications of such a reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56982/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Budget 2023 provides for gross expenditure of €1,142.419m for my Department in 2023 consisting of current expenditure of €935.937m and capital expenditure of €206.482m and is available online at www.gov.ie/en/publication/eb6ec-budget-2023-expenditure-reports/. The overall allocation for Culture in my Department's Vote for 2023 is €352.382m, an increase of 83% on the initial 2020 allocation of €192.905m.

The 2022 budget was cast in a time when the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sectors my Department supports was still all encompassing. Throughout 2022, the arts and culture sector in Ireland was either closed completely, or operating at significantly reduced capacity levels. The 2022 budget included funding aimed at supporting these sectors through the worst of the pandemic. From the total allocation for 2022 which was €1.222 billion, being €1.019 Billion in current funding and €202 million in capital funding. Of the €1.019 billion in current funding, €219 million was provided on a once-off bases for COVID-19 support measures including initiatives to support Live Entertainment and Sport, and Business Continuity funding for the Tourism sector, all aimed at ensuring these sectors were sustained through the pandemic.

As we emerge from the pandemic, in line with the cessation of horizontal supports following the lifting of public health restrictions, sector specific interventions have been tapered and will not operate in 2023.

I have secured a comprehensive package for Arts and Culture for 2023, this includes:

- The retention of the record €130 million funding for the Arts Council in 2023 in recognition of the transformational impact of this funding and to support artists and arts organisations as we look to further develop the sector.

- An additional €10 million in 2023 to fund the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme, a 3-year, €105 million scheme involving 2,000 artists and creative arts workers which will support each beneficiary in developing and sustaining a professional arts practice.

- €2 million increase in funding for Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide.

- €7 million in additional capital funding for artists’ spaces and climate adaptation, including a new scheme, details of which will be announced shortly.

- An additional €2.5 million will help ensure the National Cultural Institutions continue to provide high-quality programming, to promote learning and engagement opportunities and to safeguard the National Collections.

- Up to €500,000 for supports for artists and arts workers put in place by the department in partnership with the Irish Theatre Institute and others as part of the ‘Safe to Create’ programme, coordinated by ITI.

- Up to €2 million in capital supports for stakeholders in the Night Time Economy in the context of the implementation of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report. This is in addition to €4 million in current spending for a range of initiatives and pilot projects to support a more vibrant and diverse Night-Time Economy.

- €1 million extra for Screen Ireland for the continued implementation of the government’s 10-year Audiovisual Action Plan. This is in addition to a decision by Government to extend a key tax incentive for the film industry, Section 481, to 2028.

- An allocation of €3 million to develop, oversee and manage a new archive and exhibition space as part of the overall National Centre for Research and Remembrance. This is a significant and unprecedented project of national and international importance which is being developed in partnership with a number of agencies over the coming years including the National Archives and the National Museum of Ireland.