Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht have reflected on some of the key achievements in the first half of this year, which have helped support the sectors under the remit of the Department. Among key achievements….
- Record funding for high-performance Irish athletes in Olympic and Paralympic year
- Initiatives to recognise the role of women in Irish society
- National Plan for Irish Language Public Services
- Multi-million investment in arts and culture
- Development of new Tourism Policy Framework
Commenting on the first six months of the year, Ministers Martin and Byrne highlighted major funding initiatives vital to the growth and evolution of sectors within their responsibility.
Minister Martin said:
“So far this year, my Department has supported a range of projects and initiatives across all the sectors under its remit. From record funding of €250m in Sports Capital and Equipment, to the world-leading Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme, to investment in the Gaeltacht and the Irish language on a scale never seen before. I am proud of this Government’s commitment to our tourism industry, to the arts and culture, to sport at all levels, to our native language with the Gaeltacht at its heart, and to developing a robust and trustworthy media sector.
The country’s recent success in international athletics demonstrates the benefits of investment in sport. My Department this year announced a record €25m funding through Sport Ireland in High Performance Sport. This is the highest-ever level of investment in High Performance Sport in Ireland – both for an individual year and for an Olympic/Paralympic cycle. It marks a huge step towards the investment objectives set out in the National Sports Policy 2018-2027.
“Separately, a range of initiatives – both financial and otherwise – have been undertaken to support this country’s rich cultural and artistic traditions. These include the allocation of €6m to deliver artist workspaces nationwide. Research conducted by my Department, and ongoing engagement with the creative and night-time economy sectors, over the last number of years has revealed demand for artist workspaces far outweighs supply, and that there is a widespread shortage of creative spaces such as studios and performance spaces.
“Earlier this year, we launched the Strategy for Language-Based Arts in addition to a financial package of almost €10 million to commence its implementation. This package includes four-year funding of €5.78 million for An Taibhdhearc, Amharclann Náisiúnta na Gaeilge for the period 2024 to 2027 as well as €4.085 million for Oireachtas na Gaeilge for its National Action Plan to develop, strengthen and promote Irish language-based arts across the country in the period 2024-2027. The success of the 35m annual Basic Income for the Arts scheme also continues with weekly payments of €325 to 2,000 artists and creative arts workers
“I published two reviews commissioned following the Government decision to initiate an independent, root and branch examination of RTÉ. The 116 recommendations made by the Expert Advisory Committees are a blueprint for the further reform of our national broadcaster.
“When fully implemented, they will improve the governance of RTÉ, both internally and externally, ensure the culture of RTÉ better reflects the values of public service held by its staff, and improve both the industrial relations landscape and human resources processes and procedures within RTÉ. The recommendations point the way to a more inclusive, transparent and accountable RTÉ, one that truly has the character of a public service.”
Minister Martin continued: “Our investment in our film and television industry continues to pay dividends, from small, independent productions to Oscar-winners and streaming blockbusters. I was delighted to be able to congratulate Cillian Murphy on his Academy Award. He represents the pinnacle of an industry my Department is proud to support.
“In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the need to address the under-representation of women’s contributions to the State’s political, scientific, social and cultural history.
“Accordingly, this year I established a new advisory committee to focus on women and women’s stories in the national cultural collections.”
With regard to tourism, Minister Martin stated: “We continue to provide strong support to the tourism sector in its journey towards full recovery post-Covid. Earlier this year we undertook a public consultation process on our new Tourism Policy Framework which will shape how tourism develops in a sustainable way in Ireland in the period to 2030. I expect to publish that new policy in the coming months. I also had the opportunity to engage with the sector both at Meitheal in Killarney and at two meetings of the Hospitality and Tourism Forum held, the most recent of which I chaired. This engagement with the sector is vital to building a sustainable future for tourism in Ireland.
“The capital development pipeline for tourism remains open, and I was really pleased to open the new Queen Maeve Square in Sligo, which has transformed the space into an attractive public square and orientation hub that will undoubtedly attract both national and international visitors.”
Minister Martin also highlighted ongoing north/south cooperation in tourism which continues to deepen with the resumption of the North-South Ministerial Council – which she attended along with cabinet colleagues in April.
“At the North-South Ministerial Council Tourism Sectoral in June I agreed with Minister Conor Murphy to the establishment of a Joint Strategic Coordination Group to identify and examine opportunities that will support the sustainable development of the tourism sector across the island.”
Minister Byrne, said: “As a Government, we are delivering record budgets for sport, as we work to provide everyone, of every ability, with an opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity. Last month, we confirmed that a record €250 million will be available for the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, representing a 50% increase in funding when compared to the last round of allocations in 2020. We will see the largest-ever investment in sports facilities when Sports Capital and Equipment Programme allocations are announced this Autumn.
“In addition, we launched a new €120 million round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund for applications in April, and there will be a strong focus on deliverability as we assess the applications we received following the deadline for applications on 1 July.
“I have been proud to oversee the introduction and publication of the new Similar Access Requirement, which is designed to ensure that whenever sports facilities are publicly funded, women and men enjoy must enjoy similar access to those sports facilities.
“From the grassroots to the boardroom, we want to see women’s participation in sport supported at every level. Recently, we announced a record €4 million for programmes designed to get more women involved in sport. We are also seeing a significant increase of women in sport leadership roles, with the overall percentage of women on sport boards standing at 45% in April 2024, compared to 29% in 2020. Under a new rule that has been introduced, 50% of Government funding will be withheld until 40% gender representation on national sport boards and Local Sports Partnerships is reached.
“In line with the Programme for Government target of reaching 60% overall participation in sport by 2027, I launched a new ‘Participation Nation Outdoor Fund’ in May, which is designed to spur physical activity in local community settings by supporting Local Sports Partnerships with the development of barrier-free sport projects on publicly-accessible land.
“On many occasions, Ireland has done itself proud when it comes to hosting major international sports events, most recently when our capital city welcomed football fans from across Europe and beyond in May for the 2024 UEFA Europa League Final.
“As we look forward to cheering on Team Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games later this summer, I am glad to note this Government’s record in investing over €89 million in this Paris Olympic-Paralympic cycle compared to €59 million invested in the Tokyo Olympic-Paralympic cycle.
Minister Byrne continued: “Since my appointment as Minister of State for the Gaeltacht in April, I have been delighted to advance many priority areas. Recently, we announced the appointment of a new Chair of Údarás na Gaeltachta and in looking ahead, I look forward to publishing the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill and introducing this important piece of legislation to the Houses of the Oireachtas before the Summer recess.
“The resumption of meetings of the North South Ministerial Council Language Body meeting is a development I greatly welcome and I was delighted to meet with Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons MLA, and Junior Minister at the Executive Office, Aisling Reilly MLA, at the NSMC North South Secretariat Office in Armagh, in late May, where we engaged with relevant stakeholders.
“I was very glad to recently announce significant progress in the implementation of the Official Languages Acts, with the commencement of provisions allowing for a new Placenames Committee to be appointed and for jury summons to be issued bilingually.
“On 19 June, the first National Plan for Irish Language Public Services was submitted to me and within 3 months of this date, we will see the plan submitted to Government for approval. I am determined to see the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services act as an effective roadmap towards meeting the legislative requirement to have at least 20% of the staff recruited to public bodies competent in Irish, by 31 December 2030.”
Some of the key measures introduced to date in 2024 to help support the Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media sectors include:
TOURISM
· New Chief Executive Officer and board members appointed to Tourism Ireland
Opinions Sought on the Future of Irish Tourism
· Just Transition, first phase funding of €24M allocated by Fáilte Ireland
· Work continues on the Shared Island Tourism Brand Collaboration Project which aims to create greater links between two iconic coastal routes
· North South Ministerial Council – Minister Martin affirms commitment to work together with all stakeholders towards achieving a sustainable tourism sector
· Targeted supports delivered to tourism businesses most affected by accommodation stock displacement
· The continuous provision of capital funding to ensure the sustainable development of tourism product across the regions.
CULTURE AND ARTS
· €6 million funding to deliver artist workspaces nationwide
· Creative Ireland awards over €1.2 million to Creative Health and Wellbeing Projects
· Works commence on €37m redevelopment of the Archive Repository at the National Archives
· Department drive to make Ireland’s nightlife inclusive for people with disabilities
· Cruinniú na nÓg 2024 launches over 1,000 free creative activities for young people
· Bonar Law Collection acquired by National Library of Ireland
· New exhibition chronicling key aspects of Irish life over the last 100 years
· Minister Martin welcomes allocation of €8.6m in funding through Sound and Vision Scheme
· New advisory committee to focus on women and women’s stories in the national cultural collections
· Launch of Ireland’s Representation at the 2024 Venice Biennale
· Irish poets and politicians among treasure trove of new records released online
· Opening Night of Zeitgeist Irland 24 – a year-long programme of Irish arts and culture across Germany in 2024
· Over €1.2 million in funding announced for Culture Ireland’s promotion of Irish arts globally
· Arts Sector gathers to discuss Status of the Artist in Ireland & results from first year of the Basic Income for the Arts pilot
· Crawford Art Gallery redevelopment project to progress to tender
· Minister Michael McGrath and Minister Catherine Martin highlight recent Section 481 improvements at Ardmore Studios visit
GAELTACHT
· New arts strategy and funding package of €20 million announced for the Gaeltacht and for the Irish language in the community
· Minister Byrne announces increase in daily allowances for Gaeltacht families and hostels under Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge
· North South Ministerial Council approves appointment of CEO of Foras na Gaeilge
· Tech funding of over €2m for Kinia to develop STEAM skills through Irish
· New Chair of Údarás na Gaeltachta
· €600,000 in funding approved for the Conradh na Gaeilge Ciste Spreagtha 2024 – 2026
· Publication of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Bill 2024
· Significant progress made on implementation of the Official Languages Acts
SPORT
· Record investment of €25 million in High Performance Sport for 2024
· Record €250m fund available for Sports Capital and Equipment Programme
· All eyes on Ireland as Dublin plays host to the Europa League Final
· €120 million fund announced for Major Sports Infrastructure
· Record Level of Core Funding for Sports Bodies in 2024
· Launch of new Participation Nation Outdoor Fund
· Record funding for Women in Sport Programmes
· Irish Sports Monitor 2023
· Ireland joins the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport
· Ministers Martin & Byrne publish Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund Review and new Similar Access Requirement
· LSSIF Fund Review and Similar Access Policy
· Record Funding for Sports Equipment 26 million
MEDIA
· Minister Martin publishes reviews arising from the independent examination of RTÉ
· Appointment of new members to the Boards of RTÉ and TG4
· Opinions sought on 14 new sporting events considered for broadcast on free-to-air TV
· Launch of first Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for the Media Sector
· Minister Martin welcomes allocation of €8.6m in funding through Sound and Vision Scheme
· Department to introduce Simplified Media Merger Notification Procedure