Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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209. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which she continues to ensure the continued growth and viability of all portfolios under her aegis with obvious benefit for tourism, culture, arts, sport and media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46062/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The information sought is set out below in respect of each sectoral area of my Department.

Tourism

A key high level objective of my Department is investment in tourism marketing and product development. Budget 2025 has maintained the substantial support that the Government has provided over the last number of years to the tourism sector. The 2025 allocation of €226.3 million for tourism, including a €61.4 million allocation to the Tourism Marketing Fund and €36.5m in capital funding, will allow Tourism Ireland to continue its major marketing campaigns overseas and facilitate Fáilte Ireland in continuing its work in areas such as destination development, tourism careers and home holiday promotion. It will also support both agencies in enhancing the tourist experience and supporting tourism businesses in Ireland in areas such as festivals, digital transformation and sustainability.

In relation to policy generally, earlier this week I published a new National Tourism Policy Framework for the period to 2030. The Framework mainstreams environmental, economic and societal sustainability across the entire tourism sector and aims to establish Ireland as a leading tourism destination, excelling in sustainable development practices that deliver better economic, social and environmental outcomes for all. The new Framework has policy objectives in relation to careers in tourism, innovation, product development, regionality, seasonality and the impact of broader Government decisions on the sector. The Policy Framework will ensure that tourism can grow in a sustainable manner and has a particular focus on growing tourism in less developed tourist areas. A copy of the new Policy Framework is available on my Department’s website.

Culture

My Department’s Arts and Culture programme aims to promote and develop Ireland’s world class artistic and creative strengths at home and abroad, maximising their societal and economic value for the country, and supporting Arts and the entertainment sector to develop and grow.

National Cultural Institutions (NCIs) and NCI Capital Investment Programme

I am committed to enhancing access to and engagement with culture and creativity for the benefit of society through various channels, including through our National Cultural Institutions (NCIs). My Department supports the NCIs through annual funding in support of their operations and programming, and by ensuring that their work is supported by a robust legislative and corporate governance underpinning.

My Department has been working with the National Monuments Service, the National Museum of Ireland and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to progress the commencement of the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, (HAHMP). This will institute provisions equipped to cater for the protection of historic heritage in a modern era and benefit all engaged with objects of Irish culture and heritage.

My Department is also working with the NCIs and the Office of Public Works to deliver an ambitious capital investment programme that will redevelop and futureproof our institutions for generations to come. My Department provides guidance and support to the sector through the provision of an overarching cultural policy framework.

Commemorations

Following the conclusion of the Decade of Centenaries Programme in December 2023, it was recognised that people still wanted to explore their history and mark locally significant centenaries and other anniversaries after the Decade of Centenaries.

The Department is adopting a supportive and facilitative approach in planning for future commemorations, while not recreating the Decade of Centenaries Programme in scope or scale, and in the context of the annual budget and resources available. The principles and work of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) leaves a permanent legacy, which will continue to support and guide future commemorations.

My Department continues to support our local authorities, in this new phase of commemorations, as they develop independently their commemorative programmes specific to their locality and their communities. This year and each year through the Decade of Centenaries Programme, I have approved a funding allocation to each local authority for their commemorative programmes with a specified amount going towards a creative or artistic element.

The continued interest from the public and our stakeholders has also resulted in the continuation of two legacy projects.

In October, I announced the 10 new Markievicz Awardees. This award is run in partnership with the Arts Council. It is designed to support artists to develop their craft and ultimately produce great art that recognises and commemorates the role of women in the twentieth century and beyond. These winners bring the total number of artists funded through this allocation to 52 and a total funding allocation of nearly €1.2million.

I will shortly announce the next recipients of the Commemorations Bursary in honour of the late Dr Éamon Phoenix, historian and former EAG member. The bursary supports local historians, both amateur and professional, to create new research. While originally the Bursary was focused on the events of the Decade of Centenaries the scope has now been extended to include other significant historical events and themes.

Plans are also continuing for the 2025 National Famine Commemoration which aims to ensure that the famine, its victims, and its legacy are not forgotten. The event rotates annually among each province of Ireland and will take place in Munster in 2025. In line with a 2018 Government Decision it is held on the third Sunday of May (or the preceding Saturday if required). The National Famine Commemoration continues to grow in importance and significance, as an opportunity for the host community but also the wider country to reflect on one of the most tragic and impactful events in Irish history.

Representation of Women and Women’s Stories within the collections of the NCIs

A new Advisory Committee on the Representation of Women and Women’s Stories within the collections of the National Cultural Institutions has been appointed to examine how the diverse experiences and voices of women, particularly historically marginalised women, are represented in the context of the national cultural institutions and the national collections.

Night-Time Economy

The Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report, published in September 2021, contains a set of recommendations on how to support and develop a Night-Time Economy (NTE) in Ireland. The Night-Time Economy is a hugely important sector contributing to our economy and our cultural and creative sectors and is an important driver of Tourism. Having a diverse range of evening entertainment and night-time activities can boost the local economy and is an essential element of providing a successful tourist destination experience and has a major role in in how a city or town is enjoyed and perceived. I have secured funding of €2.5 million in budget 2025 in support of a range of measures to develop the Night-Time Economy and we will continue to liaise with the NTE Sector, our relevant Government Colleagues and Agencies on how best to develop a vibrant night time culture and economy.

Basic Income for the Arts

The Basic Income for the Arts scheme is a three-year pilot that was the number one recommendation of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce, which I established in 2020 to examine ways in which to help the arts recover post pandemic. I am very pleased to have been able to deliver on this recommendation.

The scheme has been firmly established as a research project so that an evidence base can be developed around the impact of the payment which will inform future Government policy in relation to how Ireland supports her artists.

2,000 recipients were selected in 2022 to receive payment of €325 per week. The pilot scheme is funded €35m per year and will continue in 2025.

Culture Ireland

In Budget 2025 I secured the highest ever allocation of funding in its history to Culture Ireland at €8m. 2025 also marks the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of Culture Ireland and this funding will help deliver on its mission to promote Irish arts globally.

Creative Ireland

I am pleased that funding of €10.7 million provided to the Creative Ireland Programme in 2024 will be maintained in 2025 with an ambition to inspire and transform people, places and communities through creativity. Under the Shared Island Initiative, €2.975 million was allocated in 2024 to the Creative Ireland Programme, and with a further €2.565 million secured for 2025 that will bring the total allocation to €6 million over 3 years.

Gaeltacht

Official Languages Acts 2003 and 2021

€1.5m has been secured in Budget 2025 to continue the work in ensuring the full and successful implementation of the Official Languages Acts 2003 and 2021 and the first ever National Plan for Irish Language Public Services, which was published in October 2024.

This year An Coimisinéir Teanga published an initial overview of compliance by public bodies in 2023 with Section 10A of the amended Official Language Act. These figures indicate investment of €10.4m by public bodies in Irish language advertising in 2023 and €3.8m in advertising on Irish language media, which is hugely positive and will look to be grown on in the coming years.

Sport

In relation to sport, the further growth and viability of this important sector is being driven and guided by the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 (NSP). When the NSP was published in 2018, it set a commitment to double investment in sport to more than €220 million by 2027. As a result of Budget 2025, the funding allocation for sport next year will be over €230 million. This means that two years ahead of schedule, this Government has more than doubled the funding for sport, compared to 2018 levels.

Implementation of the NSP continues to proceed satisfactorily and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, on 6 November, I published the new Sports Action Plan 2024-2027 with the aim of ensuring the continued development and success of Irish sport. The publication of the new Sport Action Plan, which sets out 47 specific initiatives, underlines the commitment and determination of the government to increase our participation levels in sport and physical activity. In order to meet our ambitious participation targets, we need to promote a ‘Sport for All’ approach and the publication of this new plan is one way in which we are working to tackle the participation gap where it exists, such as among people with a disability.

The development and implementation of a Local Sports Plan by every Local Authority in the country is an action in the National Sports Policy and work on their development is scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks. Local Sports Plans will review needs by taking a strategic look at the provision of sports and recreation facilities, infrastructure, programmes and services, with the ultimate aim of increasing sports participation locally.

Last August, I was pleased to launch Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy which sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. It includes an Action Plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, covering both indoor and outdoor swimming and taking account of all ages and abilities.

Major Sports Events

My Department is continuing to support the hosting of Major Sports Events in Ireland and to explore further hosting opportunities. This is evidenced by the Government’s support for events such as the US College Football Classic every August from 2022 – 2026, the hosting of the UEFA Europa League Final in 2024, the Ryder Cup in 2027 in Limerick and the EURO 2028 football championships.

On October 2024, the launch of the first Major International Sports Events Policy and Strategy Framework took place. The publication of this policy and strategy framework delivers on the Government commitment to develop a strategy to identify the type of major sporting events we can and should bid for (in particular those cancelled because of COVID-19), and how these events can be used to increase sporting participation, encourage domestic and international tourism, and promote Ireland.

Community Sport Facilities Fund

On 25 September, Minister Byrne and I announced €230 million in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase 2 of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme). Over a quarter of a billion euro has been allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024, taking account of the earlier equipment-only allocation of €26 million, with a total investment of €256 million. This will facilitate the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.

On 4 November 2024, Minister Byrne and I announced the second round of funding allocations under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). This follows the first LSSIF round of allocations announced in January 2020.The total amount of grants awarded is €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects. With this announcement, the cumulative investment from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund since 2020 now reaches €297 million.

The allocation of €173 brings the total investment in sports capital and recreation for 2024 to €429 million.

Broadcasting and Media

The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act was signed into law in December 2022. Under the Act a new multi-person regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, was established on 15 March 2023 and commissioners were appointed. Government provided significant funding to kick start An Coimisiún enabling it to develop Ireland’s online safety framework and resource it to enforce updated rules for broadcasters and video on-demand providers. In October, as provided for under the OSMR Act, An Coimisiún adopted Ireland’s first online safety code.

Further to the publication of the Future of Media Commission report in July 2022, Government established an Implementation Group to develop an Implementation Strategy and Action Plan to give effect to the accepted recommendations. The Plan was published in January 2023 and work is continuing on the delivery of the commitments in the Action Plan.

The Future of Media Commission recommended the establishment of a new Media Fund to provide support for the provision of public service content by the wider media and journalism sector at local, regional and national levels on a platform neutral basis. I secured €6m in Budget 2024 for new Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes, which were launched by Coimisiún na Meán earlier this year. Further Exchequer support for the Media Fund was announced as part of Budget 2025 with €10m being available next year, and which will facilitate the development and roll out of further schemes to support the wider media sector.

Building on the €28.4m in additional Exchequer funding which has been provided to the Broadcasting Fund over the lifetime of this Government, a further €6m will be available in 2025 to support news and current affairs content on independent and commercial broadcasters through the Sound and Vision scheme.

In July 2023, I launched an examination of RTÉ consisting of Reviews of Governance and Culture and of Contractor Fees, HR and Other Matters and the appointment of a forensic accountant to examine the RTÉ barter account and any other off-balance sheet accounts. On 7 May 2024, I published both the Reviews and the report of the forensic accountant. On 24 June 2024, both my Department and RTÉ published implementation plans, setting out how the 116 recommendations of the Reviews would be implemented, and work remains ongoing to deliver on these important commitments.

In October I published the general scheme of a Broadcasting Bill which will also give effect to a number of the recommendations made by the Expert Advisory Committee on Governance and Culture at RTÉ, including bringing RTÉ under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General, and strengthening the functions and duties of the Boards of our public service broadcasters. The Bill will also increase transparency and value-for-money by reforming the system of assessing the performance and funding of RTÉ and TG4 by giving Coimisiún na Meán greater authority in line with the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission.

Following this, Government agreed multi-annual public funding for RTÉ which, through a combination of an improved TV licence system and Exchequer support, will ensure that RTÉ is supported to deliver on its Statement of Strategy.

In September 2023, I launched Cúla4, TG4’s new Irish language television service for children and young people, which follows a period of sustained investment in TG4. This investment has seen TG4’s total funding increased to €60 million, a total increase of almost €23 million or 61% since I began my term in 2020.

The multi-stakeholder Working Group established to develop Ireland’s first National Counter Disinformation Strategy is in the drafting phase and hopes to finalise the Strategy as soon as practicable.