Vol. 461 No. 5
20 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the steps, if any, he is taking to support the preservation of traditional Irish music performance and research; and the five main relevant projects. [3033/96]
Tugann mo Roinnse deontas substaintiúil bliantúil — suim £185,000 i 1995 — do Chomhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, eagraíocht a bhfuil sé d'aidhm aige an ceol traidisiúnta a chaomhnú agus a neartú, mar chabhair chun a chuid imeachtaí uile a reachtáil. I measc na dtionscnamh faoi scáth an Chomhaltais áirítear: — Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann agus Fleadhanna Ceoil Áitiúla — Cartlann den cheol traidisiúnta i gceanncheathrú an Chomhaltais i mBaile na Manach, Contae Bhaile Átha Cliath — Ceolchoirmeacha sa tír seo agus thar lear — Ceolfhoireann nua pobail — Ionaid Chultúrtha Réigiúnacha — Cúrsa Dioplóma sa Cheol Traidisiúnta do mhúinteoirí agus Cúrsa Teastais do Fhoghlaimeoirí; agus — Seimineáir agus cúrsaí do lucht foghlamtha, moltóirí agus léiritheoirí.
In addition to my Department's support for traditional music I understand that An Chomhairle Ealaíon has also taken initiatives in the area. The principal initiative taken by An Comhairle to date was the establishment in 1987 of Taisce Cheol Dúchais/The Irish Traditional Music Archive for the purpose of collecting, preserving, documenting and seminating material relating to Irish traditional music. This body now houses what is perhaps the largest collection of such material anywhere in the world and which is freely available and accessible to allcomers. The Archive is jointly funded by An Chomhairle and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
An Chomhairle also supports Na Píobairí Uilleann which is based in Dublin and has membership of almost 1,000 throughout Ireland and in many other countries. My Department has also provided that organisation with funding to assist with its Pipes On Loan Scheme.
Other activities supported by An Chomhairle include the Folk Music Society of Ireland and a wide range of organisations and events which are focused exclusively and specifically on the transmission of technical skills, repertory, musical insights and related matters which are at the heart of the transmission and development of Irish traditional music.
