From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
By: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Catherine Martin
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Dia Daoibh
Tagann buiséad na bliana seo sna sála ar thréimhse dhúshlánach na paindéime. Ach, tá deacrachtaí nua againn anois, de bharr an costas ard maireachtála. Ach Creidim go gcabhróidh an buiséad seo linn dul i ngleic leis seo.
The impact of the pandemic was bruising for the Arts, Tourism and Sport communities, where creativity was stifled, that Céad Míle Fáilte muted and our playing pitches fell silent.
Not long after that dark veil was being lifted, a new crisis unfolded with Russia’s war on Ukraine. This fuelled already rising inflation, among goods and services amid soaring energy costs. And in recent months, with Vladamir Putin cutting off gas supplies to Europe, the energy crisis has reached alarming levels not seen in this country for decades.
Our job in Government is to help steer the country through challenges as they unfold. Just like the pandemic, this energy and cost of living crisis has impacting all sectors under the aegis of my department.
While our Arts and Culture communities showed significant resilience during and after the pandemic, and continue to adapt and move forward, that sector again is suffering from this latest energy and cost dual crisis.
I have secured a comprehensive package for Arts and Culture for 2023 to address this.
This includes keeping record Arts Council funding at €130 million for next year, the third year in a row. That result allows funds reach all parts of the sector, including to over 100 organisations, over 40 Arts Centres, over 200 festivals and thousands of artists.
The department’s Budget includes funds to guarantee the €35 million annual support for the three-year Basic Income scheme for 2,000 artists. Recipients, who get €325 a week, are from all art forms, age groups, ethnicities and counties. The BIA is a once in a generation initiative and makes a strong statement about the value that Ireland places on the arts and artistic practice.
There is also €6 million in Night-Time Economy funds which will further drive footfall into towns to support performances and 8 night-time advisors to lead reforms nationwide. Soundproofing grants will also help night venues and nightclubs.
Some €6 million extra for artist studio funding will fund up to 100 new spaces and support their climate adaption needs.
The government also agreed to a request by me for an income tax relief for Uilleann pipe makers and harp makers, to apply to proceeds from the sale of the instruments. Uilleann piping and Irish harping are internationally recognised and officially inscribed by UNESCO under the 2003 Convention as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
A special €60 million fund for arts, sports, Gaeltacht and community organisations impacted by rising energy bills was agreed and details of this will be finalised in the days ahead.
While a recovery in Tourism was felt this summer with sharp demand both from overseas and domestic tourists exceeding supply of services, this was pent up. Postponed trips, conferences and events like concerts and games triggered a busy season leading up to and during the summer.
But there are some concerns it could be just a temporary bounce back. Other pressures in tourism revolve around staffing retention and sustainable tourism for our country as well as value for money.
For Budget 2023, there is €15 million in continued additional funding for overseas marketing of Ireland as a destination. This includes €5 million to further develop a new tourism initiative aimed at stimulating international demand, The Invitation.
There is also an additional €15 million for a range of industry initiatives including investment in skills development and retention, domestic marketing to promote tourism. This amount also includes long-term funding for the hosting of the American College Football Classic every August out to 2026. That event next year will see some 40,000 overseas visitors come here.
I have also secured additional funding to allow Fáilte Ireland to continue its work in the area of sustainability. And other allocations include €36.5 million in capital funding for tourism product development for the continued delivery of enhanced visitor experiences in line with the objectives of the National Development Plan 2021-2030.
Tourism businesses impacted by rising energy costs will also be able to avail of the government’s newly announced Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme.
The media sector has seen rising costs for print and for energy use across all mediums. Furthermore, the need for online regulation has never been greater, especially with disinformation during the pandemic and this war.
I am responding to these needs as well as greater reforms in the media landscape as part of Budget 2023.
This includes €6 million to start a new media funding scheme, supporting local democracy and court reporting in print and broadcasting. This will support local, regional and national media and be platform neutral.
We also agreed €7.5 million for establishment of Coimisiún na Meán for online safety and media regulation. New commissioners, including the Media Development Commissioner and the Online Safety Commissioner, will be selected by November this year.
A significant agreement, recommended to me by the Future of Media Commission which I advocated for since July with Cabinet colleagues, was the reduction of VAT for newspapers from 9% to 0%. This will support jobs, production and of course the role of independent journalism in Ireland.
Some €15 million for public service broadcasting to address Future of Media Commission recommendation to provide interim funding for RTE was also agreed.
An extra €7.3 million for TG4 will also help continue that station’s growth and programming.
And I’m delighted to announce that this increase will enable TG4 to launch a new dedicated children’s channel, Cúla4. This will be a totally new channel, operating from morning until the evening. And it will include a children’s news service, entertainment and education content, drama, Irish animation, and will reflect the diverse backgrounds of children living in all parts of Ireland, but particularly in Gaeltacht and Irish speaking communities.
The total Gaeltacht and Irish Language Budget I secured for next year is €94.19 million. This is an increase of 10% over the 2022 allocation (€85.6 million).
Sports funding, which will further help high performance and growth among participants, is also seeing its core funding rise by 4% to 175m.
Minister Jack Chambers will speak on these shortly.
Ghabh muid tríd an ngéarchéim dheireanach; éireoidh linn gabháil tríd an gceann seo chomh maith le chéile.
Go raibh maith agaibh.