Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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375. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of times funding was moved across budget lines within her Department in a process known as virement; the name and purpose of the fund the money was taken from; the name and purpose of the fund the money was transferred to; the dates upon which she approved of such transfers, since she took office; if the Department of Public Expenditure was consulted prior to the transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12278/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am providing below, the Deputy with a list of virements in relation to my Department since I took office.

In all cases, sanction was provided for by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform prior to the movement of monies, pursuant to Section C.2 (9) of Public Financial Procedures.

2020

-€2.9m from subhead D7 (LARGE SCALE SPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND) as €1m to subhead C4 (IRISH LANGUAGE SUPPORT SCHEMES) and €1.9m to subhead E5 (DEONTAS I LEITH THEILIFÍS NA GAEILGE). This transfer was to enhance the provision of 3rd level courses through Irish and support public service broadcasting through the medium of Irish (30th November 2020).

- €1.2m from subhead D8 (MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS) to subhead D5 (SPORT IRELAND) to meet pressures arising due to the pandemic (17 December 2020).

- €1.5m from various administrative subheads and subhead C9 (CROSS BORDER CO-OPERATION) to subhead C6 (ÚDARÁS NA GAELTACHTA - ADMINISTRATION) to meet pressures arising due to the pandemic (17 December 2020).

- €700k from subhead C10 (LANGUAGE PLANNING PROCESS) to subhead C3 (GAELTACHT SUPPORT SCHEMES)to meet pressures arising due to the pandemic (17 December 2020).

- €5.5m from various administrative subheads, cultural programme and Gaeltacht programme to subhead E6 (BROADCASTING & MEDIA FUND) to meet pressures arising due to the pandemic (17 December 2020).

2021

- €33.4m from various administrative and programme subheads to subhead D5 (SPORT IRELAND) with savings arising from the slowdown in capital projects arising from the pandemic and vired to meet the additional COVID funding package provided to Sport Ireland in 2021 (13th December 2021).

- €8.05m from various cultural subheads to subhead E6 (BROADCASTING & MEDIA FUND) for Sound and Vision Scheme with specific reference to live music broadcasting projects on foot of COVID challenges (13th December 2021).

- €1.215m between Gaeltacht subheads, but within the Gaeltacht programme area, to meet pressures arising due to the pandemic (13th December 2021).

2022

- €5.5m from subhead D7 (LARGE SCALE SPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND) to subhead D5 (SPORT IRELAND) to provide for matters in relation to the National Sports Campus (28th July 2022).

- €500k from subhead B16 (CULTURAL SUPPORTS) to the Creative Ireland Programme for a number of local authority projects arising from the pandemic (23rd September 2022).

- €1m from subhead B17 (LIVE PERFORMANCE SUPPORTS) to various Gaeltacht subheads in respect of a package of energy supports for the Gaeltacht (25th October 2022).

- €116k from subhead E6 (BROADCASTING & MEDIA FUND) to subhead E5 (DEONTAS I LEITH THEILIFÍS NA GAEILGE) to facilitate the transmission of TG4 in High Definition (25th October 2022).

- €551k from subhead B17 (LIVE PERFORMANCE SUPPORTS) to subhead B10 (GENERAL EXPENSES OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND) in relation to ongoing operational costs.

- €600k from subhead B17 (LIVE PERFORMANCE SUPPORTS) to subhead B8 (CULTURE IRELAND) to meet increased international demand following lifting of COVID restrictions (12th December 2022).

- €1m from subhead D8 (MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS) to subhead D5 (SPORT IRELAND) for a number of initiatives with sporting National Governing Bodies (14th December 2022).

- In addition, €15.54m was moved between various cultural subheads as part of a Technical Supplementary Estimate, which was approved by Cabinet in November 2022 and subject to Select Committee review on 23rd November 2022.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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376. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding streams available for a local group (details supplied) to meet the excessive increase in costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12502/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The organisation in question may be eligible for support under the Community Support Fund, operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development. This fund has been established to help community groups and facilities deal with increases in energy prices and other costs. The scheme provides small grants to a diverse range of local community groups to assist with energy bills and running costs.

The scheme remains open for applications until March 24th 2023. Pobal are administering this scheme on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development. Details on eligibility and on how to apply are available on the Pobal wesbite at www.pobal.ie.