asked the Taoiseach the status of the proposed percentage scheme for art in architecture which was submitted to his office over a year ago by the Arts Council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Art in Architecture.
1.
The document to which the Deputy is referring was submitted to my office in mid-July 1983. It was subsequently circulated to all relevant Government Departments for their observations. The consensus was that current constraints on the level of public expenditure precluded the introduction on a statutory basis of a percentage scheme for arts in architecture.
I am happy to note that in recent years a considerable amount of decorative art has been included in private developments and in undertakings by State companies. It has also been the practice for some years for the Office of Public Works to set aside for the exhibition of work by Irish artists a portion of the cost of major new buildings. This has been set at 1 per cent of the cost of such buildings subject to an upper limit of £12,000 for art work. I can assure the Deputy that I will have the feasibility of the proposal examined again as soon as I think that it is appropriate to do so.
Is the Minister of State aware that the Association of Artists in Ireland argue that this is the standard reply that is given in good times and in bad times and that what they are looking for is not a fixed amount but a percentage amount, 1 per cent being the amount concerned? Since it applies to the Office of Public Works, could it not equally apply to private enterprise?
Regrettably I never have the opportunity of answering such a question in good times. There is no difficulty in principle and that would be agreed by all, but a difficulty arises in connection with the amount of money available. There are urgent requests for funds and it is not possible in the present constrained situation to meet all requests. I am sure the same argument would be voiced by the private sector. We are very keen to see this introduced and I have considered what the legislation might be like for the introduction of this scheme. However, it is all a question of timing. It is very important that we get the timing right so that when it is introduced it will be accepted all around, as it is agreed in principle.
Since the Minister of State has initiated a detailed study, will he tell the House the status of the study? Has it been completed, when will it be published and when will the contents be made available to Members of the House?
Various Departments were circulated and we got their views on it——
That was in 1983 — two years ago.
That is right. That was a submission from the Arts Council and we circulated various Departments in that connection. I have done a considerable amount of study on it and I am very much in favour, but it is a question really of timing so that there will be acceptance when the scheme is introduced. In the meantime, the Office of Public Works are operating the 1 per cent scheme themselves.
Will the Minister of State acknowledge that so far as one, and probably the most important sector of building is concerned, namely, public buildings, there is no need for legislation and that the purposes in respect of which Deputy Mitchell has addressed his question could be achieved quite simply by administrative action as was done satisfactorily and successfully recently in the case of Beaumont hospital?
So far as the public buildings are concerned they are under the aegis of the Office of Public Works who are the people responsible in this area. They are operating a scheme of 1 per cent of the total cost with an upper limit of £12,000. There is a general desire that there should be provision to make the scheme mandatory if conditions were suitable——
The Minister of State has the power.
I think it would be generally acceptable and I hope to have the opportunity at a later stage of introducing the scheme.
Is the Minister of State aware that the Association of Artists in Ireland are pursuing this matter as a means of stimulating and expanding visual awareness and also as an opportunity for Irish artists to display their skills? Will he commend the 1 per cent scheme on the basis that it gives the artists an opportunity to display their art and for citizens to enjoy it? Will the Minister of State say when the report he has compiled will be made public and circulated to Members of the House?
I do not think there is any question of making it public or circulating it to Members of the House. If we think the time is right for legislation and if funds are available we will introduce it. There is legislation of this nature in a number of continental countries and it is functioning well. With regard to a spinoff for the Association of Artists in Ireland, that is true and there will also be a spin-off in the purchase of works. There is no disagreement in principle on the matter but it is just that we have not the funds at the moment.
It is back to the garret for the artists.
I suggest that the Minister of State is putting the cart before the horse. He seemed to say that as soon as the money was available the legislation would be introduced. There is no reason why legislation should not be introduced now and, if necessary, suspended until such time as funds are available. That would be the right way to proceed.
That is something I thought of but I turned it down. I considered the possibility, but an enormous volume of legislation is coming before the Government at the moment and they will be exceedingly busy between now and the recess and for the next two or three years. If conditions improve I think we will be able to get that simple legislation through.