Godfrey Timmins
Question:16 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the level of progress made in his negotiations with FAS to ensure the development of adequate training schemes for young artists.
Written Answers. - Training Schemes for Young Artists.
Charles Flanagan
Question:31 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the level of progress made in his negotiations with FAS to ensure the development of adequate training schemes for young artists.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 31 together.
Negotiations between FAS and my Department regarding the development of adequate training schemes for young artists will shortly take place. However, An Comhairle Ealaíon which is the statutory body under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for the arts, are in constant negotiations with FÁS in relation to the development of adequate training schemes for young artists and I assume that An Comhairle will address this important issue substantively in their co-ordinated three-year programme for the arts which they expect to submit to me in the first half of next year.
FÁS have contributed greatly in terms of funding and training to a large number of arts projects over the years and I wish to place on the record of the House my appreciation of the work which they have done in this area to date.