Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 September 2022
153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media 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. [47853/22]
View answerAs I have previously advised, in Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 21st June 2022, my Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, published in August 2021, sets out the actions that my Department is taking to support the Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sports, Media and Irish language Sectors.
These sectors are not only emerging from the challenges of Covid-19, but the pressures brought by increasing energy costs and inflation is also having an impact. My Department continues to engage with a range of stakeholders across these Sectors to assist in meeting those challenges. In that context, for Budget 2023, Minister Chambers and I announced, on 28th September, 2022, details of a €1,142m gross funding allocation for the Department’s sectors. This funding support brings a wide range of important new initiatives and a continuation of some existing measures to support further growth and development for these Sectors. The following are the key highlights of these measures.
Tourism
- €30m to support tourism development at home and amongst overseas visitors.
Culture and Arts
- €130m funding for Arts Council retained for a further year.
- €35m for pilot Basic Income for the Arts scheme.
- €2m funding increase for Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide.
- New €7m capital funds for artists’ spaces, and for climate adaptation measures.
Irish Language
- Additional €8.5m to support the Irish language and the Gaeltacht.
Sport
- Additional funding to Sport Ireland of €8m – to support high-level performance sport, develop a new coaching fund, grow participation at all levels, and deliver first-ever national swimming strategy.
Media
- €7.5m to enable Coimisiún na Meán commence the vital work of online safety and media regulation.
- €6m to new Media Fund’s Courts and Local Democracy Reporting Schemes as part of wider support package for local, regional and national media and journalism.
- Largest ever increase to TG4 will support the launch of a new dedicated Children’s Channel, as part of their continued provision of quality Irish language programming.
In addition to these measures, the Government has put in place business supports to assist commercial sectors, and funding of €60m is being provided in 2022 to address cost of living challenges, across the Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and the Community and Voluntary sector. My Department is working with the Department of Rural and Community Affairs and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with a view to making this funding available to relevant sectors as a matter of priority.
This package of measures will continue to support and benefit all of these Sectors and will have important economic and societal value to people all over Ireland.
Information in relation to my Department's policies and initiatives, including more detailed information on the package of measures announced for Budget 2023, are available on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media/
