Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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48. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she intends to further increase funding to the arts, culture and sports to bring this funding in line with EU averages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37010/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The increased funding enjoyed by the Arts, Culture and Sports sectors over the past number of years reflects the important role played by these sectors across our economy and society and is testament to my commitment, and the commitment of Government, to ensure that robust funding streams are in place to allow them deliver on key priorities and objectives.

It is commonly acknowledged and widely understood that there are challenges in making meaningful international comparisons of public expenditure in respect of Ireland based on Gross Domestic Product. Nonetheless, I am satisfied that there has been considerable progress in recent years in growth in public funding of arts and culture in Ireland. Relative to Budget 2020, Budget 2024 saw an increase of over 90% in funding for the Arts and Culture Division of my Department. This included record allocations for the Arts Council of Ireland, Fís Éireann, Culture Ireland and continued funding of the three year €105 million Basic Income for the Arts research programme as well as significant increases in funding for our National Cultural Institutions (NCIs). In terms of capital expenditure, my Department, in partnership with the Office of Public Works, is engaged in a programme of significant investment in our NCIs as well as supporting local authorities in addressing demand for artist workspaces. There was also a programme of investment in the Decade of Centenaries Programme, the renewal and continued implementation of the Creative Ireland Programme, and new initiatives in areas such as the Night Time Economy.

With regard to Sport, the importance that this Government has placed on increasing physical activity participation rates is evident by increased and sustained investment in sport in recent years. One of the Governments key aims is to double State funding for sport over the 10-year period from 2018, when the National Sports Policy was published, to 2027. In 2018, the total sport budget was €111 million. In 2024, it is €209 million, an increase of 88% and we are therefore well on track to doubling the State’s investment in sport to €220 million by 2027.

Budget 2025 negotiations are ongoing at present, and whilst I am not in a position to comment in any detail, I can assure the Deputy of my ongoing commitment to secure the necessary supports to continue the trajectory of increased funding for these sectors. Some highlights of increases in funding for these sectors over the past few years are set out below.

Arts and Culture

Basic Income for the Arts

The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme is a three-year pilot that I established as a research project so that an evidence base can be developed around the impact of such a payment to artists. The BIA payment is having a consistent, positive impact across almost all indicators; affecting practice development, sectoral retention, well-being, and deprivation. Artists in receipt of the support are typically able to devote more time to their art, have a boost to their wellbeing through greater life satisfaction and reduced anxiety, and are protected from the precariousness of incomes in the sector to a greater degree than those who are not receiving the support.

Creative Ireland

My Department has continued to work to ensure that the Creative Ireland Programme 2023-2027 is adequately funded to achieve its aim to enable each citizen to realise their full creative potential. A particular highlight of the work of the Programme is Cruinniú na nÓg, a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Youth Plan to enable the creative potential of children and young people. In recognition of its continued success, it has had its funding increased year-on-year since 2020.

Culture Ireland

The 2024 funding for Culture Ireland was increased by €1 million, to €7.6 million, to ensure that we can continue to promote Irish arts worldwide and to create opportunities and support the international careers of Irish artists. Support is provided for both in-person and digital presentation with a focus on supporting travel costs for paid opportunities. In 2023, Culture Ireland supported over 3,500 artists and arts professionals to present internationally, reaching a global audience of 6.7 million

National Cultural Institutions investment programme under National Development Plan

My Department is working with the National Cultural Institutions and the Office of Public Works (OPW) to deliver an ambitious programme of flagship projects that will redevelop and future proof the Institutions for generations to come.?Some examples include the National Archives Archival Repository at the warehouse in Bishop Street, the Crawford Art Gallery redevelopment project, the initial phase of the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall campus, and a number of significant NCI project.

Night-Time Economy

I have invested significantly in supporting the recommendations of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce since the publication of the Report in 2021. I have allocated over €11 million in current funding and €2 million in capital funding to support the development of a vibrant, inclusive and diverse Night-Time Economy and to help stimulate new ideas and new thinking in the Night-Time Economy. This includes funding for new Night-Time Advisors in nine cities and towns across the country, funding for late night opening in the NCIs, various Night-Time Economy Support Schemes and safety initiatives.

Screen Ireland

Screen Ireland is the national development agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. The agency supports writers, directors and production companies across these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. The budget for Screen Ireland has almost doubled since 2019, with €39.546 million allocated for 2024.

Sport

Sports Capital and Expenditure Programmes

The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.

From 2018 to date, €266 million has been allocated under the programme. Since 1998, over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas and groups that are currently underrepresented in terms of participation. The 2023 round of the SCEP has seen a record 3,210 applications received by the deadline date.

On 9 May 2024, Minister Byrne and I announced over €26 million in equipment-only grants under the latest round of the SCEP. The grants have been provisionally allocated to organisations across the country and to over fifty sports and activities. On 29 May 2024, Minister Byrne and I were pleased to confirm at least €250 million is to be made available for capital projects under the 2023 round of the SCEP. This is on foot of positive recent engagement on revised allocations for the National Development Plan, which has facilitated this largest-ever investment in sports facilities across the country.

The funding now available represents a 50% increase on the funding allocated in early 2022 under the 2020 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme and it should mean positive allocation decisions for all valid applications under the current 2023 Programme. The assessment of funding applications for capital projects is now at an advanced stage and I expect to announce allocations in the coming weeks.

Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund

The Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund was established in 2020 to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, where the Exchequer investment would be greater than the maximum amount available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. To date €124 million has been allocated to large sports infrastructure projects nationwide and a further €120 million has been allocated for a new round of funding, the assessment of which is currently underway.

High Performance Programme

The success of Team Ireland athletes at the recent Olympics and Paralympics in Paris comes on the back of unprecedented and sustained funding of our High Performance Programme, with more than €89 million invested from 2021 to 2024. This represents a significant increase on the €59 million invested in the Tokyo Olympic-Paralympic cycle. In terms of future funding and the Los Angeles cycle, the Government is determined to see investment in High Performance Sport continue to grow to meet our national ambition.