Press release
Ministers Martin, Byrne and O’Donovan reflect on achievements in 2023
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne, and Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta, Patrick O’Donovan, have underlined their department’s support over 2023 to strengthen and support its key sectors of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Reflecting on the year, all three Ministers outlined key funding and measures which have helped sectors grow and contribute to the Irish economy and Irish society in general.
Minister Martin said:
“My department has continued to support our much-valued sectors, such as Tourism, Culture, the Gaeltacht, Sport, Media and the Arts, through unprecedented challenges. The key supports the government has allotted to these sectors have ensured the vibrant and dynamic development and continued resurgence of Irish arts and culture, tourism, sport and our native language throughout the year.
“We’ve made significant progress around online safety. In March, the new regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, overseeing media regulation and online safety was established. In December, An Coimisiún published the first draft Online Safety Code for video-sharing platform services for consultation. That finalised Code will form part of Ireland’s overall online safety framework, holding online services to account for how they keep people safe online. A national counter disinformation strategy, a key recommendation from the Future of Media Commission, is also well underway. In the autumn there was an online public consultation process with a stakeholder consultation forum held at the end of November. We are on course to publish the Strategy by the end of Q1 2024.”
She continued:
“It has been a challenging year for public service broadcasting following the revelations of corporate governance and control failures at RTÉ. However, the various reviews and examinations which have been put in train, together with its Strategic Vision, will help pave the way forward for rebuilding trust in RTÉ and ensuring that public service values are at the core of its future activities. Putting in place a new funding model is key to ensuring a sustainable future for public service media in Ireland, and will be one of my priorities for 2024.
"Against this backdrop, however, it is important to note the global success this year of Irish productions such as “An Cailín Ciúin” and “The Banshees of Inisherin”. This year’s increase to the cap in the Section 481 film tax relief scheme will ensure that Ireland remains one of the most attractive locations for high-quality, high-value international film and television production. The new Media Fund will also support the wider broadcasting and media landscape, and additional funding provided to TG4 this year has consolidated the development and launch of Cúla4, the first Irish Language TV channel for young people.
“In terms of tourism, Ireland’s largest indigenous economic sector, overall funding of €216 million will enable us to continue to support the recovery of the sector, with a particular focus on areas most impacted by the current displacement of tourism accommodation, and to keep Ireland at front of mind in our key overseas markets. There has also been good engagement with stakeholders on the development of a new National Tourism Policy Framework which I hope to publish in Q1 2024 and which will have sustainability at its core.”
Minister Byrne said:
“2023 was a watershed year for women’s sport, with the Irish team’s participation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, proving a personal highlight for me. This year, I was proud to introduce a new “Similar Access Rule” for men and women under the Sport Capital and Equipment Programme and the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund, oversee significant progress in respect of the 40% gender balance on boards target, and double the funding for Women in Sport Programmes under Budget 2024.
"I am determined to see our participation levels increased and in order to meet this ambition, I understand the need to have adequate facilities in place. Earlier this year, I was very glad to open a new round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme for applications and more recently, I announced over €37 million in “Top Up” grant allocations to existing projects under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund to assist the delivery of those projects. And in looking ahead, I look forward to seeing a new round of the Fund open for applications in 2024.”
Minister O’Donovan said:
“In my own area of the Gaeltacht and the Irish language, 2023 was a momentous year. In particular, I was proud to increase funding to our Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Líonraí Gaeilge. This increased funding will go a long way towards our aims of preserving the Irish language as a vibrant and living community language in Gaeltacht areas and promoting its daily use outside the Gaeltacht.”
Some of the key measures introduced over 2023 to help support the Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media sectors, as well as other major announcements in all sectors under the department’s remit, are outlined below.