Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are funding opportunities for an arts centre (details supplied) to carry out upgrades to its facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36950/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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At present, my Department has a capital funding scheme open for applications. Stream E of the Cultural Capital Scheme focuses on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country. In line with the Government's action plan on climate change, Stream E also welcomes projects that reduce an organisation's carbon footprint as well as projects that provide additional capacity for artistic production. Projects that address access and health and safety issues are also supported.

Examples of the type of projects that would be eligible to be funded are refurbishment and upgrading of facilities, energy audits, projects that reduce the organisation's carbon footprint including energy upgrade projects e.g. insulation, solar panels, LED lighting; projects that address access, including accessibility audits, Health and Safety upgrades. Seating, staging, and soundproofing are also eligible.

Stream E offers grants up to €50,000 to not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and culture remit. Grants of up to €20,000 are available at 85% grant funding rate except for Local Authority owned facilities where the maximum grant is 60% of eligible costs. Grants of up to €50,000 are provided at a maximum grant funding rate of 70% (60% for Local Authority owned facilities). Full details of this Scheme including Application Form, Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions are available on my Department’s page of the website at the following link gov - Creative Arts: Grants and Funding (www.gov.ie).

This Scheme builds on the success of the previous arts capital funding schemes such as Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022, (Streams A and B funded 45 organisations, Stream C funded 10 organisations and Stream D funded 110 organisations) and the earlier Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 (which funded 134 arts and culture organisations). There is a broad range of dedicated, purpose-built arts and culture facilities throughout the country and this funding is aimed at ensuring the preservation of these facilities .

Should the arts centre to which the Deputy refers meet the eligibility criteria for Stream E, it may complete the Application Form and forward the required documentation to my Department at the designated email address. This is a rolling scheme i.e. there is no closing date - it opened for applications in June 2023 and will remain open until the fund of €1.4m is exhausted.