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For Written Answer on : 30/11/2023
Question Number(s): 384 Question Reference(s): 52893/23
Department: Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture; Arts; Gaeltacht; Sport and Media to outline the various funding schemes under the aegis of her Department and under Fáilte Ireland that are open for applications at present; the closing dates for any such schemes; the details of any further schemes she plans to open for applications in the next six months – David Stanton.
REPLY
The details relating to the various funding schemes administered by my Department that are open for applications at present are outlined in the table below. There are currently no new schemes confirmed to open for applications in the next six months.
Regarding bodies and agencies under my Department’s remit, these are operational matters for the agencies themselves, including Fáilte Ireland.
| Funding Scheme | Overview of Scheme | Scheme Closing Date |
| Cultural Capital Scheme | This overall scheme will provide funding for projects that reduce an arts and culture organisation’s carbon footprint and will include funding for organisational energy audits. It also includes funding towards upgrading of cultural infrastructure including better access. | This is a rolling scheme with no definite closing date. |
| Regular Grant Scheme | Culture Ireland offers support to Irish professional artists, arts organisations and international presenters to present work by Irish artists at significant international venues and festivals through the Regular Grant Scheme. Applications are accepted from the artist/arts organisation or international presenting partner. | The current deadline for applications is 1st December 2023. The application system is open on a rolling basis and applications can be made at any time to be assessed in the next upcoming grant deadline. All application deadlines for 2024 are published on the Culture Ireland website, www.cultureireland.ie |
| See Here Scheme | The See Here scheme is designed to support the inward travel of international promoters and programmers to see work in Ireland with a view to booking the work for their venue or festival. | Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, based on the published criteria for the scheme. |
| Showcase Scheme | With regard to showcasing work at key industry arts markets or trade fairs, where Culture Ireland is curating an event, applications are invited as appropriate, and specific to each showcase, and a selection is made taking into account the requirements and context of each event. A call for participation in Culture Ireland showcase at Edinburgh 2024 will be published early next year. | Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, based on the published criteria for the scheme. |
| Ireland at Venice | This scheme is a call for applicants to represent Ireland at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition at Venice, La Biennale di Venezia in 2025. | 17th January 2024. |
| Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge (Irish Learners Scheme) | This scheme offers a daily subsidy of €12 per day to eligible Gaeltacht families who provide certified accommodation for those who attend one of the c.42 recognised Gaeltacht Irish language colleges. A once-off start up grant (€6,000 or 80% of overall costs, whichever is greater) is available for new households seeking recognition under the scheme. | This scheme remains open to new applicants all year. |
| DEIS Gaeltachta scholarship scheme | The Department currently funds the DEIS Gaeltachta initiative which is administered on behalf of the Department by the Galway and Roscommon Education Board (GRETB). The scheme currently provides circa. 400 scholarships annually to students of the 235 DEIS post-primary schools across Ireland who wish to attend Gaeltacht Summer colleges. | The 2024 scheme was launched in November 2023 and will remain open until all scholarships have been allocated. |
| ÁRAINN Gaeltachta | The ÁRAINN Gaeltachta initiative provides funding of over €150,000 a year to support up to 30 post-primary students per year who wish spend a full year attending any one of the three post-primary schools on the Aran islands and who reside in a recognised Gaeltacht household for the duration of the school-year on the island. | There is no restriction in terms of when interested parties may apply. This scheme is closed for the 2023/2024 school year at this point but will be open again for 2024/2025 next year. Secondary schools administer the ÁRAINN Gaeltachta scheme. Expressions of interest are accepted throughout the year and a waiting list system is implemented should the scheme be filled to capacity. |
| Erasmus Gaeltachta scheme | Under this initiative, which commenced in 2019, an annual fund worth €250,000 has been created to give up to 175 third-level students the opportunity to spend a university semester with Gaeltacht families while attending qualified third level course. | There is no specific closing date. However, the timing of attendance by students is linked to the academic calendar. |
| Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht (Caipitil) | Community based organisations that operate through Irish outside the Gaeltacht may make an application for capital assistance under the Department’s Irish Language Schemes. Funding can be provided to assist with the costs associated with, for example, building/repairing Irish language centres and the purchase of buildings for use as Irish language centres and/or the purchase of equipment for such centres. The purpose of the capital assistance that is provided under this fund is the strengthening of Irish as a community and family language in accordance with the objectives of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 and the 20 Year Strategy for Irish 2010-2030. | This scheme remains open to new applicants all year. |
