Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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21. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she expects to allocate funds under the major or minor grants/schemes administered by her Department; the extent to which she can assist communities where cost overruns due to Covid are affecting projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45649/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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My Department has operated a number of support schemes and initiatives by way of special provision in response to the challenges arising from the COVID pandemic. While there is no framework for revision of support levels on approved projects to assist with increased costs arising from COVID, recipients of funding from my Department are encouraged to liaise closely with my officials in relation to their progress or any difficulty on their projects.

Across the broad remit of responsibilities in relation to Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, my Department directly administers a range of capital and current funding schemes. These are in addition to funding provided by bodies under the aegis of the Department in all of the sectoral areas.

While the timing of the allocation of these funds varies, I wish to highlight the following for the Deputy in relation to schemes administered directly by the Department:

Culture

Among the schemes relating to the Arts and Culture functions of the Department, the following four will be open for applications in early 2024:

• the Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme,
• the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme,
• the Small Scale Festivals and Summer School Scheme and
• the Mobility of Collections Scheme.

Culture Ireland runs a regular grant scheme up to five times a year. The dates of the rounds are advertised through the Culture Ireland website in advance of the deadlines. The dates for 2024 have not yet been finalised and will be published before the end of 2023.

Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme

The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme which provides 2,000 recipients with a payment of €325 per week. Payment to BIA recipients has been ongoing since October 2022 and will continue in 2024.

Cultural Capital Scheme

Applications are also now open for a further stream of funding under the Cultural Capital Scheme. This scheme will provide funding for projects that reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint and will include funding for organisational energy audits.

Creative Ireland

In relation to the Creative Ireland Programme, the majority of its 2024 spend has been allocated through grants awarded in 2023 and commitments made through Creative Communities and the Creative Youth Plan. The decision on the remaining allocations will be made in early 2024.

Gaeltacht

Irish Language Support Schemes

Grant funds for current spending under Irish Language Support Schemes are allocated by my Department on an ongoing basis. The majority of current funding for 2024 has already been allocated to fulfil ongoing commitments.

Community based organisations that operate through Irish outside the Gaeltacht may make an application for capital assistance under the Department’s Irish Language Schemes. There is no deadline as applications are welcome throughout the year. The existing budget of has been increased by an additional allocation of €0.5m in Budget 2024.

Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge

Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge supports language acquisition and enrichment opportunities in Gaeltacht regions for second and third-level students nationwide. Under this scheme, a daily subsidy of €12 per day is payable to eligible Gaeltacht families who provide certified accommodation for those who attend one of the c.42 recognised Gaeltacht Irish language colleges.

Sport

Sports Capital Programmes

With regard to capital support for sports projects, my Department provides capital support through the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

The latest round of the SCEP closed for applications on Friday, 8th September. Detailed assessment work is expected to commence on these shortly, with grants for the "Equipment-only" applications intended to be announced in the coming months and the capital allocations likely to be announced later in 2024.

The first LSSIF allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. In light of pandemic and inflation related difficulties, LSSIF grantees were invited to apply for additional support by 4 August 2023. The outcome of these are intended to be announced in the coming weeks.