104. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding supports available to support the establishment of music festivals in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39531/24]

I am conscious of the contribution that festivals make to the artistic and cultural life of local communities and how they make destinations more attractive to domestic and international tourists. I recognise also the challenges involved in arranging festivals, often involving significant financial outlay and commitments and a great deal of voluntary activity. Accordingly, my Department and the relevant agencies under its aegis support the staging of festivals.

In that regard my Department runs a Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme. The Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals which are not in receipt of other central Government monies and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies. Events which are funded by the Arts Council and/or Fáilte Ireland are not eligible. Funding available under this scheme is typically capped at €5,000.

Full details of the scheme are available on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/89595-small-scale-local-festivals-and-summer-schools/

This scheme is subject to a competitive assessment process, and applications are marked on the following criteria:• Extent to which the projects meets the objectives of the scheme• Realistic in terms of scale, costs, assistance sought and timeframe for delivery• Demonstrate capacity to deliver project• Level of own or supporting contribution (non-state) towards the project

The Festivals and Summer Schools 2024 scheme is now closed to applications, but expressions of interest can be emailed to F&SS@tcagsm.gov.ie for notification of 2025 applications under this Scheme.

The Arts Council also provides financial support to a range of festivals, large and small, both single art form and multidisciplinary arts festivals. Strategic Funding supports organisations which are critical to the national arts infrastructure while the Festivals Investment Scheme is specifically designed to offer support to local/voluntary organisations to develop arts festivals.

As part of their Strategically Funded Festivals, Fáilte Ireland supports a diverse selection of larger festivals and events throughout the country. The Regional Festival Scheme, which they also support, is available to local community festivals and is administered by the Local Authorities. Each Local Authority manages their own application and grant process.

I do not propose to amend the structures for support of festivals but I envisage that, having regard to their scale and content, proposals for new festivals would be brought forward through these channels.