Seán Canney
Galway East · Independent · Ireland
“To obtain an operational authorisation, an operator must provide a comprehensive safety portfolio, which includes assessing and addressing both ground and air risks with appropriate mitigations. Manna Air Delivery holds such an authorisation from the IAA.”
“The national policy framework for UAS, agreed by the Government, was published by the Minister in August last year. The policy framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning and development in the drone sector in Ireland through support, growth and innovation, while ensuring safe and secure operations.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I note Manna Air Delivery's recent statement that it will for now cease deliveries by drone in Ireland.”
“It proposes 16 actions under three main areas: the use of airspace and planning; compliance and enforcement; and enterprise and innovation. Actions in the policy framework include the establishment of a national working group on UAS geographical zones to develop transparent processes and procedures for the designation of these zones; the…”
“This new route provides passengers travelling from Charleville to Cork with a morning service at 7.05 a.m. and a service from Cork to Charleville at 5.45 p.m., Monday to Friday. This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, a major public transport initiative.”
“I thank the Deputy. I reassure him again that the Department, its Minister, Deputy O’Brien, my fellow Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for the benefit of current and future generations.”
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“There are a few elements to this. There is the legislation, enforcement and then we come back to the basic question about antisocial behaviour. It is important that we act on all of this across government. As I outlined earlier, we have agreed to introduce regulations that ban the use of scramblers on public roads and in public spaces. That memo will come to the Government in the coming weeks. Under the 2023 Act, dangerous driving is an offence everywhere, not just in public spaces. The Act also empowers members of the Garda to seize a scrambler if the Garda member's reasonable belief is that the vehicle has been, is being or will be driven dangerously in any location. While the use of scramblers on the roads may be legal in certain cases at the moment before this regulation is updated, it is always an offence to drive them dangerously.”
“In effect, these provisions ensure the Garda has the powers to enforce dangerous driving laws with respect to scramblers and seize dangerously driven vehicles, whether a scrambler is being driven on a public road, in a public space or in a private space. As a matter of urgency, my Department is progressing regulations to further strengthen the existing legal position and provide additional enforcement powers for An Garda Síochána.”
“Following a Government meeting yesterday, I can confirm that the Government has agreed to introduce regulations to ban the use of scramblers on public roads and in public places and a memorandum outlining this will be brought to the Cabinet in the coming weeks. Stakeholder consultation is a normal part of making any regulations under the Road Traffic Acts to help ensure they are practically enforceable and provide the required powers to achieve a given road safety end. While An Garda Síochána is a key partner, given its exclusive role in enforcement, impacts on the Courts Service must also be considered. The Road Traffic and Roads Act provided significant enhanced enforcement powers for the Garda in relation to scramblers.”
“While the commencement of the third provision created regulation-making powers to restrict certain classes of vehicles, any such regulations will be incremental on the other restrictions, and no regulations have yet been made. My Department has been conducting stakeholder consultation on the potential content of any additional regulations in terms of what might be added to the existing prohibitions and restrictions. The regulations are at an advanced stage of development. I have made it clear, on the public record and with my officials, that I want to be presented with these regulations for signature as a matter of urgency.”
“In 2024, gardaí seized 124 scramblers. The latest figures show that by the end of October 2025, they had seized another 113 scramblers. The third key measure in the Act is that it enables the Minister for Transport to make regulations to prohibit or restrict the use of certain classes of vehicles in particular places. These three provisions should be read together, given their interlinked nature. They were all commenced by SI 392/2023 in July 2023. Since that date, it has been an offence to drive dangerously anywhere and An Garda Síochána has had the necessary enforcement powers to seize a vehicle that is being driven dangerously.”
“I want to be clear that there is no lawful reason for most scramblers to be on our public roads and that An Garda Síochána has the relevant enforcement powers it needs to police compliance with the legislation, as I shall outline. The 2023 Act made dangerous driving an offence everywhere, whereas it had previously been an offence only in public places. The Act also enhanced the Garda's powers of vehicle seizure such that members of the force have the power to seize a scrambler being driven dangerously in any location. Moreover, members of An Garda Síochána can enter the curtilage of a dwelling to seize a scrambler. This allows them to seize a vehicle that was detected earlier. High-speed pursuits may endanger gardaí and the drivers of those vehicles, meaning it may be necessary to seize the vehicle later, when it is safer to do so.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I convey my sincere sympathy to the family and friends of the late Grace Lynch, who was so tragically killed at a pedestrian crossing as she was out for a walk. It is unbearable to think people are not safe while out walking like that. There is an onus on us all as public representatives to tackle the issues in this regard. I will clarify a few issues that may be causing confusion for the public. The Road Traffic and Roads Act, which was enacted in June 2023, provided enhanced enforcement powers for the Garda in respect of antisocial behaviour by riders of scramblers. The Act introduced three key measures in relation to scramblers. In combination, those measures have substantially prohibited the use of scramblers in public places and their dangerous use anywhere.”
“The Minister for Social Protection and all of us in government remain committed to continuing the range of supports available to disabled people under review to ensure they are meeting our objective of improving outcomes for disabled people, their families and their communities. I thank the Deputies who brought forward this motion and all the Deputies who contributed to the debate.”
“In addition, a person who is receipt of certain social welfare payments, such as the disability allowance, for 12 consecutive months may retain their medical card for three years after moving into employment. In the work we are doing now on the cost of disability, it is important to remember that we are building on the supports already available and the improvements that have been made, particularly in recent years. I will make a comment on what I heard in the Chamber. People are calling for permanent solutions to this problem and that is what we are all about. One-off payments are fine, but they give no certainty for the future for people with disabilities. We need to have long-term benefits.”
“Fear of losing secondary benefits can also be a very significant concern for people when they are considering taking up or increasing their employment. That is why it is very important for us to introduce measures whereby recipients of disability allowance or blind pension will be able to retain their fuel allowance payment for up to five years after moving into employment. There are already arrangements in place for the retention of certain secondary benefits when a person comes off a disability payment and into employment. A person can retain eligibility for the free travel scheme for five years if they move into work from disability payments such as the disability allowance, the invalidity pension, the partial capacity benefit and the disablement benefit along with incapacity supplements.”
“These requests are read within 48 hours of receipt and are fast-tracked back into payment from there. We are committed to further improving the position in this regard. We are also extending the back to work family dividend to people with children who are moving off disability allowance or the blind pension and into employment. This will ease the transition over a two-year period. We also work with employers and across government to improve employment for disabled people. Secondary benefits are of great support in assisting people with additional costs. The Government is focused on heating costs today. Budget 2026 increased the rate of fuel allowance by €5 per week. This will provide an additional €140 to people during the annual fuel season.”
“The Minister, Deputy Calleary, has committed to expanding and building on successful programmes, such as WorkAbility, EmployAbility and the new work and access programme, to support people with disabilities into employment. Budget 2026 provided for an expansion of the wage subsidy scheme and an increase in the payment rates. These positive measures build on the other recent improvements to the schemes, such as the reduction in the number of hours, from 21 to 15, for work. There are already arrangements in place whereby when a former disability allowance customer's employment ceases or their hours are significantly reduced within 12 months of the termination of their disability allowance, it is open to that person to contact the Department to have their payment reinstated without the need to make a new application.”
“WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme aims to support about 13,000 disabled people progress their training and employment ambitions through 57 local, regional and national organisations. The programme runs from January 2024 to December 2028 and the experience to date has been very positive. Funding is also provided for GetAHEAD and the Willing Able Mentoring programmes to help people with disabilities transition from education to work. GetAHEAD works to upskill graduates with disabilities, with information sessions and training events. Willing Able Mentoring provides mentored and paid work placements for graduates with disabilities.”
“It can help people find work through the job matching services and offer ongoing in-work support to employees and employers. There is a now a designated disability employment personnel officer in 62 Intreo offices. We are promoting training initiatives to raise awareness and understanding of disabilities among Intreo staff generally. In July 2022, the Department launched the early engagement scheme. This scheme proactively invites people to talk about their employment ambitions with Intreo staff and then helps them achieve their goals through the Department's employment training support. Taking part is voluntary. In December 2023, a new employment programme under the new European Social Fund Plus funding was announced.”
“It adopts a whole-of-government approach, with individual Departments and State agencies responsible for planning and delivering the commitments that come under their remit under five key pillars, including employment. We all know that many disabled people face barriers in the workplace and when looking for employment. We want to address those barriers. The Department of Social Protection, through its nationwide network of Intreo centres, provides employment services for jobseekers. In line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, these mainstream services are available to disabled people. More tailored supports are also offered, in particular, EmployAbility offers specialised employment services to people with disabilities.”
“We will be guided by the outcome of that review. We are committed to progressively increasing weekly disability payments. We have been doing this, including in the recent budget in which we increased the personal rates for qualified adults and child support payments. To ensure that ongoing medical assessments are not carried out in respect of people with lifelong conditions that are not going to change, we will examine the ability to work criteria for certain payments. The issues faced by disabled people cut across government, not just one Department. That is why the national human rights strategy for disabled people is a key focus.”
“Supports are in place for the people who need them. It is up to us as public representatives to direct people to those supports when we know they are struggling. Opposition Deputies had their chance to speak. It is called respect and democracy. The Minister spoke about the Government's commitment to introducing the annual cost-of-disability support scheme. This is incredibly important but is just one piece in the jigsaw. The programme for Government and the national human rights strategy for disabled people include a whole range of commitments for disabled people. We have committed to reforming the disability allowance payment and removing anomalies in the current means test for that payment. The Department of Social Protection is conducting a review of means testing generally across the schemes, as has been requested in the House.”
“The Department's community welfare system is available to provide financial support for these essentials. The additional needs payment and the heat supplement exist for precisely that purpose. As a TD, I am acutely aware of that. People are getting support that way. We have to be very careful not to frighten people by putting out messages about people having to choose between food or heating their homes.”
“As the Minister clearly stated in his opening remarks, he will bring forward proposals in the first half of this year on the cost of disability. It is a priority for budget 2027. It is important to emphasise that the Government remains committed to continuing its long-standing practice of consultation and close engagement with stakeholders and disability representative groups. It is important to stress again that nobody in Ireland needs to go without food or heating for financial reasons.”
“I thank all the Deputies for their contributions to this debate. While the Government has opposed this motion and tabled an amendment to it, that does not mean that we do not recognise the difficulties and additional costs that disabled people face. We are very aware of those costs. Our determination to assist people with those costs is reflected in the improvements we have made to disability support schemes in recent years and our commitments to further improvements. We are committed to introducing an annual cost-of-disability support payment. We will do this over the lifetime of this Government. Through the strategic focus network summit, we will work with disabled people, their advocates and representatives in developing a way forward. I am pleased to say that this work is progressing.”
“I reassure the Deputy and every other Deputy in the House that this is a priority for the Department of Transport and that I have the support of the Ministers and the Government on this. We are making sure that any changes we make, or made, take into account all the safety factors that have to be considered as well. I agree with the Deputy. I see this in my constituency where private operators find it hard to get drivers to do part-time work and there are very well-qualified drivers who may be 70, 71, 72 or 73, who can do this and who were doing it last year but who cannot do it this year. We have to look at that and have a pragmatic approach, and that is what is being done at the moment. Hopefully, we will get the solution to it in the not-too-distant future.”
“A private operator can be asked by the school to bring a group from Galway to the zoo in Dublin and someone aged over 70 can drive the vehicle, but someone that age cannot drive students in the local area to the local school, a route with which they will be a lot more familiar. There is an issue there to be resolved. In all fairness, Bus Éireann is looking at that. It has to look at it from a safety perspective. It also has to look at it from a logistical point of view as to how this will work. This probably affects the private bus operators more than Bus Éireann because they have people who are well experienced and school bus runs are part-time work. This is a work in progress. The Department of education is involved in it as well as Bus Éireann. I will continue to work with them to try to find a solution, which the Deputy is requesting.”
“Bus Éireann’s policy of operating services with drivers up to age 70 is grounded in safety considerations. This policy is informed by the company's operational experience and also by ongoing engagement with relevant stakeholders, including the RSA and other public operators. At this stage, I have had contact with Bus Éireann over the past year since I came into office. I have asked it to look at the requirements for people over 70. It has been looking at that. It has a safety board and an accessibility committee and they are considering whether to increase the upper age limit to 75 for its drivers. Bus Éireann is looking at this at the moment and it will continue to engage with the Departments of Education and Youth and Transport on all of this.”
“I thank the Deputy for asking the question. I know he is passionate about it, as are a lot of Deputies and Ministers, because it is something we need to get sorted. The overriding consideration in relation to age limits for bus drivers has been safety. It is a matter for relevant bus companies, including Bus Éireann, to set their own terms and conditions in relation to employment, including retirement age. Bus Éireann applies a retirement age of 70 years for drivers across its wider road passenger services, including semi-State PSO services and school transport services operated or managed on behalf of the Minister for education. This approach is consistent across the PSO cohort, as neither Dublin Bus nor Go Ahead Ireland employ drivers over the age of 70.”
“They are getting the investment and we will continue to do that. Not everything is going to happen at the one time. We have set out our strategic plan for investment over the next five years and beyond. When I met representatives of Irish Rail this morning, I got their programme. They are looking at the next 15 to 20 years. I am looking forward to seeing all of that being delivered, as the Deputy is.”
“When mentioned colleagues, I was not referring to Deputy Dolan but he knows the history of what people were trying to do. They were trying to close down lines and they were from political parties and none. Basically, I am saying that agenda is gone. What we need to do now is to work together to make sure we deliver what we can deliver. We have the will to do it and Iarnród Éireann is capable of doing it. We will start in a logical way. We are going to make sure that Ceannt Station is capable. In the meantime, while we are getting the double tracking done, we will get a passing loop and a new station at Oranmore. We are also going to open up the line between Athenry and Claremorris, so that we can service the west of Ireland. I know well the Deputy supports all of that. The agenda has changed and people are demanding investment.”
“What we have to do is make sure we, as a Government, provide the investment to make sure we can meet that demand and give a good experience to the passenger. The idea of a new train station for Louth has a lot of merit. We need to get the population there travelling by public transport rather than by cars and all that goes with that. Over the next number of year, I will look forward to making sure we invest. My two colleagues here are totally behind me on that.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising that issue. As someone who has been in politics since 2004, I am glad to see the demands that are now coming for rail and for investment in rail. At that time, the agenda was to close down the railways and people continued with that up to two or three years ago. I am glad to see that my colleagues in the constituency have seen the light of day and are now supporting the implementation of and investment in rail. It is a success story and we are now in growth and investment mode. There are 285 new carriages on order at the moment, with a total of 750 to be procured over the next number of years. That is an investment. What is happening at the moment is that we have demand that is growing every year and that is great.”
“The sectoral plan also provides funding to commence the construction of the reinstatement of the western rail corridor between Claremorris and Athenry. I look forward to seeing these projects being delivered in the years ahead. This morning I met the chief executive of Iarnród Éireann to get a progress report on the works that are going on right across the country in terms of the all-island rail review. I am happy to say that progress is being made and that last year we had 55 million journeys on rail. We are now talking about rail in a fashionable way as opposed to how we were talking about for the past 20 years, which was talking about closing it down. We are now in expansion and growth mode, and that is what we will be doing.”
“The project is scheduled to be completed next year and will be of immediate benefit to the route. Work is also progressing on Ceannt Station. These works, which are scheduled to be completed later this year, will increase the number of platforms from two to five, which will support the growth of train service frequencies envisioned under the all-island strategic rail review. In order to start making the vision set out in the rail review a reality, the NDP sectoral investment plan for transport, which my Department published in November, provides funding to advance a number of early interventions by 2030, including new passing loops and platforms to boost rail connectivity and resilience. Included in these early interventions are new platforms at Clara and Woodlawn on the Galway line which will support journey times.”
“I thank the Deputy for the question and I wish to confirm straight off that my Department is working with the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann to progress a number of rail projects in Galway, including double-tracking the line between Athenry and Galway. In order to progress this project, Iarnród Éireann has appointed a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy, and the Galway line capacity study commenced last summer, so the work is in hand at the moment. The development of an emerging preferred option is expected to be identified later this year. Separately, and related, as the Deputy said, works commenced at Oranmore Station last October. This project will provide an additional platform and a passing loop. This will increase capacity on the Galway to Athenry line.”
“Absolutely. It is being considered. I did not see that reply going out. We have a huge amount of work to do to update our legislation on road safety. However, going back to the point the Deputy made, personal behaviour is vital. We will provide the legislation and enforcement. At the end of the day, if somebody makes a conscious decision to sit in a car and do the wrong thing, it is very difficult to deal with that. The public must know there are consequences - not just a collision happening, the outcome of which could be death. Last year, there were 190 cases of that. We never talk about the people injured to a life-changing extent and who continue to live with that. I thank the Deputy for his question. This is not a political issue. It is an issue we need to continue to address together in this House and to be forceful with.”
“The Deputy makes a very important point. The four major causes of collisions on our roads are speeding; driving under the influence of alcohol or drug substances; not wearing a seatbelt; and distraction through the use of a mobile phone or all the technology in a car, which is more like an office than a vehicle to get from A to B. There are many issues we have to deal with but the Road Traffic Act is looking at all of these to consolidate what we can into more relevant legislation to deal with the challenges we have. I commend the Garda. We do not have enough gardaí doing roads policing but the numbers are increasing. I thank the Deputy for his acknowledgement of the work they do. It is very effective and they will continue to do that. I have had discussions with the Garda Commissioner and deputy commissioner on this.”
“Long-standing issues are being addressed, such as individuals repeatedly renewing a learner permit without sitting a driver test. Regulations are now in place to end this practice, with the changes coming into effect in November. Legislative changes are progressing. The Government has approved the general scheme of the national vehicle and driver file Bill, which is targeted for enactment in the first half of this year. Among other measures, the Bill will restore direct collision data-sharing with local authorities. My officials are developing the next road traffic Bill to fulfil key programme for Government commitments, including in relation to graduated speeding penalties and camera-based enforcement of mobile phone and seatbelt offences.”
“The Road Safety Authority has again been directed to ring-fence a budget of €18 million for investment in public awareness, communications and education campaigns. Last July, I published the phase 2 action plan of the road safety strategy. It includes 12 primary and 77 supporting actions aimed at delivering transformative change. Concrete recent actions include the introduction of a safer default speed limit of 60 km/h on rural roads, which affects 80% of our national road network. That was brought in last February. In October, local authorities were instructed to review speed limits in their urban areas and, where appropriate, introduce a 30 km/h limit. They have been directed to complete this work and implement the new limits by 31 March 2027.”
“I thank the Deputy. I extend my condolences and those of the Government to those who lost a loved one on our roads in 2025. With 190 lives lost, it was the worst year on our roads since 2014 and a sobering call to action for all of us to do more to make our roads safer. Reducing deaths and serious injuries is an all-of-society challenge. It is a priority for me, as Minister of State, and for this Government. This priority is made clear by our investment. Budget 2026 provides a record €1.7 billion for investment in our roads, helping to deliver safer roads infrastructure. In addition, €360 million has been allocated for investment in active travel, helping to make walking and cycling safer modes of travel.”
“In this regard, I acknowledge the work of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, chaired by the Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, and its report on the future of local democracy, which was published in 2024. It is important that we await the findings of the task force, which is chaired by Jim Breslin, who was appointed by the Minister. I too look forward to seeing the report because it is very important for democracy, and for every region and every town, that we have good democracy and plenty of engagement, so every town feels it is being represented and being heard as well, which is important. I thank the Senator.”
“I concur with the Senator on the hard work done by our local councillors on the ground with very little recognition for it. Since the time I was a councillor, the workload has increased for a lot of councillors. We need to recognise that as well. If we want to engage with and attract more young people into politics, both male and female, it is important they have access to get into the politics of it. I thank the Senator for his engagement on this matter and on the process that will see reform and strengthening of the local government sector, which is the beating heart of our democracy. The task force will build on the substantial body of work already completed by the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, the Seanad and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities reports.”
“The task force is supported in its work through pillar groups. The pillar groups are comprised of organisations that have a strong footprint within the local government sector, such as the AILG, LAMA, CCMA and LGMA, along with Government Department representatives relevant to the particular pillar theme. The task force also undertook a targeted stakeholder consultation process seeking input from a range of stakeholders from across the local authority sector. All submissions received by the task force are publicly available online on the Department’s website. The task force will bring forward proposals in 2026 and I know the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, look forward to receiving and considering the recommendations of the task force in due course.”
“As such, the programme for Government recognises the need to strengthen the framework and powers of municipal districts. The programme for Government commits to the establishment of a local democracy task force with the local government sector to finalise a programme for the reform and strengthening of local government. This commitment demonstrates the important role that the local government sector plays in our democracy through the delivery of essential services in Ireland. The task force will bring forward proposals that the Government will consider on matters relating to the structure, finance, functions, governance and accountability of local government. The Government approved the establishment of the local democracy task force on 4 June and it will make its recommendations in line with its terms of reference.”
“Instead, the Local Government Reform Act 2014 saw the introduction of 95 municipal districts, representing 100% of the population in 25 of the 31 local authorities at sub-county level, with area committees operating in the three cities, namely, Cork, Dublin and Galway, as well as three Dublin county authorities. Each municipal district can include several towns, villages and their hinterlands, with local matters dealt with at municipal district level and the wider strategic issues decided at county level. The result is an integrated administrative structure in each county which maximises operational efficiency while ensuring devolved decision-making throughout the county. I acknowledge that more work needs to be done to ensure that the potential of the municipal districts is fully realised.”
“I welcome every guest here. It is an opportune time to listen about local government. I was looking at the young people and wondering how many of them will enter politics in the future. It is an opportune time to listen to local government being discussed here. I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, to update the House on the local democracy task force. At the outset, it is important to note that the Local Government Reform Act 2014 dissolved 80 town councils, which represented just 14% of the population. This town council system had led to duplication, both in administrative and electoral terms.”
“It is important to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, that he and his Department support this investment in these facilities, both in Dublin and around the country. As I said earlier, two capital streams are currently open, stream E of the cultural capital scheme and the arts workspace scheme, and there is a separate partnership with Dublin City Council. The new scheme for arts and culture organisations that was announced in the budget will build over time, similar to the way that sports capital funding has developed. That is where the Senator will see the thresholds increased, especially with the costs of construction increasing. I will ask the Minister to come back to him on the query about the Liberties, because I do not have the answer here. While it is demand led, it is important that all organisations engage.”
“I thank the Senator. I realise her obvious passion towards this subject matter is true and genuine. This Government places great value on culture and the arts sector. As outlined in the programme for Government, we recognise that they are essential to a well-rounded society providing opportunities, education, expression and community engagement. Across the country, there is a network of cultural infrastructure, with the majority in the ownership of local authorities. Annual support, including the programming and revenue supports, is provided. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is focusing on providing capital grant funding to assist to maintain these arts and cultural facilities, with the infrastructure as opposed to the running costs.”
“Dublin City Council was allocated this amount for the Space to Create programme because, as Ireland's capital city, it has the largest population. As such, it would also have a higher population of artists in need of workspace. The Senator may be aware that in budget 2026 the Department was allocated €6 million for a new programme of capital funding for arts and culture across the country in line with a commitment in the programme for Government. This will see much-needed capital supports for communities, including funding essential equipment for organisations such as amateur drama groups and musical societies. The Department is in the process of designing the specifications for this scheme, including setting out the eligibility criteria. Depending on demand, it is the Minister's intention to seek an increase in next year's budget.”
“The scheme has also no closing date and will remain open until the scheme is fully exhausted. Since it launched in June 2024, there has been one grant awarded to Limerick City and County Council for €221,356. However, the Department has recently received six applications under the scheme. These are currently being assessed and the Minister hopes to make an announcement on these in the coming weeks. This funding will address the critical shortage of performance and workspaces for artists throughout the country. I would like to inform the Senator that in 2023 the Department of Culture, Communications and Sports allocated Dublin City Council funding of €3 million as part of the Space to Create programme, towards the provision of artists' workspaces in a number of city centre locations. These projects are currently being progressed.”
“The next round of grant awards under stream E of the cultural capital scheme is due to be announced shortly. As highlighted by the Senator, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is acutely aware of the shortage of affordable creative spaces around the country. His Department currently operates a pilot artists' workspaces scheme for local authorities. This scheme is open and accepting applications. Under the €6 million funding scheme local authorities are invited to propose projects that can accommodate and address the demand for artists' workshops in their regions and produce workshops that are fit for purpose, design focused, accessible and affordable. Funding of up to €300,000 is available for densely populated local authorities. Funding of up to €150,000 is available for less densely populated areas.”
“In line with Government action on climate change, the scheme also welcomes projects that reduce the organisations’ carbon footprint, as well as projects that provide additional capacity for artistic production. Grants of up to €20,000 are available for not-for-profit dedicated arts and cultural organisations, at an 85% funding rate. Larger grants, of up to €50,000, are available at a maximum grant funding rate of 70%. Local authority-owned facilities are subject to a maximum funding rate of 60%. Since it launched on 14 June 2023, 32 applications were successful and funding of €996,000 has been allocated to date. Some 20 projects have been completed and fully drawn down. This is a rolling scheme and is demand-led with no closing date. It will remain open until the fund is exhausted.”
“Annual support, including programming and revenue supports, is provided for arts and cultural infrastructure by local authorities and the Arts Council. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is focused on providing capital grant funding to assist development and to maintain these arts and cultural facilities. The cultural capital scheme was originally launched in October 2019 with a fund of €4.7 million. An additional stream of funding, stream E, was launched on 14 June 2023, with a fund of €1.4 million. Stream E of the cultural capital scheme focuses on enhancing the existing stock of arts and cultural centres throughout the country.”
“The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O’Donovan, is unable to be here today due to prior commitments and sends his apologies. He asked me to step in in his absence. I thank Senator Higgins for raising this important matter and giving me an opportunity to update the House on it. This Government places great value on culture and the arts sector. As outlined in the programme for Government, we recognise that the sector is essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. A network of cultural infrastructure exists throughout the country, with the majority of the facilities in the ownership of local authorities.”