Minister Martin reflects on a year of momentum across Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media sectors

• Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill enacted

• Basic Income Scheme for 2000 Artists launched

• Record €166.6m Sports Capital Funding 

• €30 million continued additional funding to support tourism development and new attractions 

• Additional funding to ensure the vibrancy of our Gaeltacht communities in the digital age

• New dedicated Children’s Channel to be launched on TG4

• Short-Term Tourist Letting Register to be established through new legislation

• Support package announced for the night-time economy

• Creative Ireland Programme extended until 2027

• Ireland/EU Just Transition tourism funding of €68 million for Midlands

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD has reflected on the key funding measures and policy development which have underpinned a year of sectoral momentum in 2022. 

Minister Martin, said:

 “We have put robust and responsive support packages in place for our Tourism, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media sectors as they transitioned to the post-pandemic reality. Environmental sustainability will be a core component of this continued recovery in 2023. My Department will play a critical role in ensuring that the transition to a lower carbon economy fosters creativity, expands the possibilities for people in Ireland to engage with nature through sustainable sport, culture and tourism policies, and guarantees that sustainable development is prioritised in the Gaeltacht. 

“Tourism is a hugely significant economic sector in Ireland, bringing employment and revenue to all parts of the country. My Department and I will continue to work closely with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to chart the path for the years ahead. €30 million continued additional funding was secured in Budget 2023 to support tourism development at home and to build on the initial inbound tourism demand seen this year.

Irish culture in its various forms – built heritage, the arts, cultural institutions, festivals and sporting events – plays a very significant role in Ireland’s tourism offering and are among the primary motivators for international visitors to visit Ireland. Tourism Ireland will leverage events such as the Aer Lingus College Football match between Notre Dame and Navy in the Aviva Stadium next August, The Open in Royal Portrush in 2025 and the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Co Limerick in 2027, to promote Ireland amongst potential holidaymakers overseas. To aid the long-term sustainable recovery effort we will seek to harness the potential of these motivators through new initiatives like The Invitation.

A key issue in the new National Tourism Policy will be the tourism sector’s contribution to meeting national and international policy commitments on climate action and I look forward to delivering a new Sustainable Tourism Policy next year. I also welcomed the drafting of the Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill which will allow for a balanced and efficient use of existing housing.”

“Culture and the Arts are a fundamental expression of who we are as a nation. A significant step forward was achieved this year with the commencement of the ground-breaking basic income pilot scheme for 2000 artists.  I also prioritised the revitalisation of our Night-Time Economy with the roll-out of the pilot Night-Time Economy Support Scheme, support for the fantastic Haunted Dancehall Festival in the NCH and the announcement of new locations for the Night-Time Advisor Pilot.

I was also delighted to announce a significant redevelopment of the National Concert Hall, future-proofing this important cultural institution for the generations of musicians to come.

The 2022 Programme for the Decade of Centenaries has provided a sensitive and meaningful platform of citizen engagement and remembrance for a turbulent period in our history

Meanwhile, the National Archives continues to protect and preserve the documents of our past, and this year delivered a vibrant and moving programme of events including the very successful Treaty Exhibition and the publication of Michael Collins’ diaries. 

“With regard to our Media sector, we have moved the Online Safety and Media Regulation to a modern and robust legislative footing this year. The new Online Safety Commissioner will be appointed early next year, and will act as a powerful regulator to enforce accountability in the sector. €7.5 million was announced as part of Budget 2023 to enable Coimisiún na Meán commence the vital work of online safety and media regulation. Additional funding of €7.3m is also being provided to TG4 for 2023, the largest ever annual increase to the broadcaster. Included in the increased funding allocation is provision of €3.3m for the establishment of Cúla4, a dedicated Irish Language children’s channel which will be launched on TG4 as part of their continued provision of quality Irish language programming.

In partnership with Department of the Taoiseach, we also oversaw the publication of the Report of the Future of Media Commission and have taken the lead in implementing the Commission’s recommendations with the Implementation Strategy and Action Plan, to be published on 21 December. The Technical Group set up to examine reform of the Television Licence Fee will make their report in Q1 2023. 

The creation of the new Media Fund, as recommended by the Future of Media Commission, will support the provision of quality public service media content, regardless of the platform it is delivered on. €6m was allocated in Budget 2023 to support the roll out of Local Democracy and Court Reporting Schemes. This will aim to be of particular value to the local and regional media outlets, and complements the changes to VAT on newspapers and news periodicals in both printed and digital format which were announced by Minister Donohoe.

“Sport is crucial to our wellbeing, both physically and mentally and the work of the Department is guided by the core principles of participation and equality. Sport helps to bring our communities alive and gives us a sense of identity, place and belonging. Irish athletes shone on the world stage over 2022 across a broad spectrum of sporting disciplines – from rowing to athletics and gymnastics. Our women’s soccer team has now qualified for the 2023 World Cup – a tremendous and important milestone.

Our policy officials have been working hard, in tandem with Sport Ireland and other bodies across the country, to support and underpin this sector with effective policy measures and funding. The largest ever round of the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme was finalised this year with total funding of over €166.6m allocated to sports organisations and community groups right across the country, and a new masterplan for the Sports Ireland Campus was launched.

In 2022 we undertook a public consultation on the hosting of major international sports events and the results of that consultation is feeding into the development of a policy for that area. Preparations are also well underway for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Notre Dame and Navy in 2023 and The Europa League Final in 2024. Looking further ahead we are preparing to host the 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare and on 15 November, Government decided to support the FAI’s submission of a preliminary bid for EURO 2028. The preliminary bid has been submitted and there is extensive work ongoing with our UK partners. It is our intention to bring the matter to Government again prior to UEFA’s April 2023 deadline for the submission of a Final Bid Dossier. We allocated €8 million in Budget 2023 to support high-level performance sport, develop a new coaching fund, grow participation at all levels, and deliver Ireland’s first-ever national swimming strategy.  

“A key mission of this Department is to support the Irish language, to strengthen its use as the principal community language of An Ghaeltacht and the development of the language in the digital age. 2022 began with the very welcome achievement of Irish as a full official and working language across EU Institutions.

Earlier this year, 400 Irish college scholarships were announced by my Department for post-primary DEIS schools, from a fund of €400,000. This fund has the over-arching aim of supporting social inclusion in the context of the Irish language

In June, the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee was established and my Department announced an allocation of almost €3.7 million for the language planning process. 

Core elements of the Official Languages Act also came into effect this year, and their impact will be far-reaching in securing a strong future for our language, while a Digital Plan for the Irish Language was also published in recent weeks.

I want to thank the Irish language community for supporting this legislation and I look forward to it benefitting our Gaeltacht communities and enriching our society as a whole.”

Concluding, Minister Martin said: 

“Our funding and support programmes will support economic recovery and resilience while also enhancing individual and community wellbeing and protecting our unique cultural, linguistic and sporting heritage for generations to come.”

TOURISM

• Minister Martin welcomes Ireland/EU Just Transition tourism funding of €68 million for Ireland’s Midlands (info)
• Ministers Martin and Chambers announce details of Budget 2023 for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (info)
• Government supports young Ukrainians in Ireland through arts and creativity (info)
• Tourism, Creative Ireland and Gaeltacht projects to be supported under the government’s Shared Island Initiative (info)
• Minister Martin’s outlines tourism commitments at Fáilte Ireland Climate Conference (info)
• Short-Term Tourist Letting Register to be established through new legislation (info)

SPORT

• Major €52 million funding boost for Sports to provide for ongoing recovery of sector and support continued participation in sport and physical activity (info)
• Statement in respect of submission of preliminary bid to UEFA following football associations’ press release on Wednesday 16 November (info)
• Minister Catherine Martin and Minister Gordon Lyons agree to pursue joint North-South Tour de France bid (info)
• Additional €6.14 million allocated under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (info)
• Public consultation on the Hosting of Major International Sports Events launched (info)
• Government supports FAI’s submission of Expression of Interest for EURO 2028 joint bid with the UK (info)
• Record €150 million provided for the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (info)

ARTS & CULTURE

• Successful applicants for the Night-Time Economy Support Scheme announced (info)
• Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme: First payments issue (info)
• Reform of Licensing Laws and additional support will help create a more vibrant, diverse and open Night-Time Economy (info)
• €5.2m in funding announced for Culture Ireland throughout 2022 (info)
• Documents saved from the Public Record Office fire of 1922 to be conserved (info)
• Ireland’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme launched by Government (info)
• Creative Ireland awards over €1,000,000 to creative projects for older people (info)
• New €15m ‘business restart’ grant scheme for the live performance sector (info)
• Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister Catherine Martin announce the 2022 Programme for the Decade of Centenaries (info)
• Minister Catherine Martin and Minister Darragh O’Brien announce €6.6 million in 2022 for Creative Ireland local authority projects (info)
• Minister Martin announces €2m package of funding for local authorities in 2022, under the Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries Programme (info)
• Community and inclusion prioritised by Government as it extends Creative Ireland for another 5 years (info)
• Publication of National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) (Amendment) Bill 2022 (info)
• Dublin Pride Festival 2022 launches with department support for cultural programme (info)
• Cruinniú na nÓg 2022 – a day of free creative activity for young people (info)
• Local Live Performance Programming Scheme boosts events in June 2022 (info)
• The Art of Being Healthy and Well: National Symposium on the role of creativity and arts in health and wellbeing will take place on 22 June 2022 (info)
• Minister announces planning application for a major redevelopment at the Crawford Art Gallery (info)
• New €3 million creative climate action fund launched by Government (info)
• Digitisation of the 1926 Census (info)
• Government announces a once-in-a generation redevelopment project at the National Concert Hall (info)
• Minister Catherine Martin announces €2.7 million to support the promotion of Irish arts globally (info)
• Historic step for Irish film industry as co-production agreement signed between France and Ireland (info)
• Minister Martin announces Night-Time Economy advisors to be appointed to 9 new pilot towns and cities(info)
• Minister Martin and the Taoiseach launched the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (info)
• Minister Martin and the Taoiseach welcomed four-day national conference in UCC (June) to mark the centenary of the Civil War and two day conference in UCD (December) to mark the centenary of the foundation of the State
• Safe to Create’ Programme leading the way to removing damaging norms in the arts sector for the benefit of all arts workers (info)
• Ministers Donohoe and Martin launch Tax Credit for Digital Games (info)

GAELTACHT

• 400 Irish college scholarships announced for post-primary DEIS schools (info)
• €6,000 start-up grant for summer college host-families goes live (info)
• Increase approved for Mná Tí in the Gaeltacht Summer College sector (info)
• Increased funding package of €2,084,330 for Lárionad na Gaeilge, Ollscoil Mhá Nuad (info)

• 3-year allowance worth in excess of €4 million approved for the Language Assistant Scheme (info)
• Allocation of almost €3.7 million for the language planning process this year (info)

• Establishment of the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee (info)
• Digital Plan for Irish launched and new speech and language technologies on the horizon (info)

AN GHAELTACHT 

• Deontas Tosaithe €6,000 do Theaghlaigh Óstacha na gColáistí Samhraidh ar Fáil Anois (eolas)
• Ardú ceadaithe ag an Aire Stáit Chambers do Mhná Tí Earnáil na gColáistí Samhraidh sa Ghaeltacht (eolas)
• Tuairisc bhliantúil 2021 ar dhul chun cinn Phlean Gníomhaíochta an Rialtais don Ghaeilge 2018-2022 seolta ag an Aire Stáit, Jack Chambers T.D. (eolas)
• Pacáiste maoinithe méadaithe €2,084,330 do Lárionad na Gaeilge, Ollscoil Mhá Nuad (eolas)

• Allúntas 3 bliana ar fiú sa bhreis ar €4m é ceadaithe ag an Aire Martin agus ag an Aire Stáit Chambers do Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga (eolas)
• Fógraíonn na hAirí Martin agus Chambers allúntas ar fiú beagnach €3.7m don phróiseas pleanála teanga i mbliana (eolas)

• An Coiste Comhairleach um Sheirbhísí Gaeilge Bunaithe (eolas)
• Plean Digiteach don Ghaeilge seolta agus teicneolaíochtaí úra urlabhra agus teanga ar na bacáin (eolas)

MEDIA

• 10 TV and Radio projects secure €2 million in funding to showcase the live music sector (info)
• New €10.5 million fund for TV and radio to support climate action, live music, and Irish language broadcasting (info)
• Minister Martin presses forward with vital online safety law to establish new regulator (info)
• 15 Radio and TV projects secure €2 million for Irish Language Programming (info)
• Government appoint new Chairpersons to the Boards of RTÉ and TG4 (info)
• President Higgins signs crucial Online Safety and Media legislation into law (info)
• 25 radio and TV projects secure €5 million for climate change and climate action programming (info)