Jim O'Keeffe
Question:45 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the work of the west Cork arts centre; and if she supports and endorses that work. [10747/00]
Other Questions. - Arts Funding.
I am aware of the west Cork arts centre and the work being done. Early last year I met representatives of the centre, as the Deputy will recall, when their arts in transition scheme was discussed. I am pleased to note that the work of the centre is being supported by the Arts Council, which has made provision for more than £100,000 in revenue grant aid for the year 2000 for the centre.
I thank the Minister for her friendly response to the people from the west Cork arts centre when they came to see her, but I want to raise, in particular, the arts in transition course, which is a good course. It involved a pilot project for more than 1,000 pupils over the past three years and funding of £80,000, most of which was raised privately – £20,000 of it was UNESCO money received via the Department of Education and Science.
I am particularly concerned about whether the Minister will support the continuation of that project, which is due to expire in a couple of months. My real concern is that it tends to fall between her Department and the Department of Education and Science. I am particularly anxious that the Minister would speak with her colleague in the Department of Education and Science to ensure that the necessary funding will be put in place to continue that transition course.
I thank the Deputy for his kind remarks. I agree with him that this is a matter which is falling between the Departments to which he referred. My Department does not have the powers to implement some of the changes which the Deputy would like to see. It is very much in the realm of education, but I would be happy to speak to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, on this matter. Perhaps we might be able to arrange for a deputation from the group to which the Deputy referred, to see him because, as the Deputy will be aware, there is a working group, which was set up between the Department of Education and Science and my Department, and this could be one of the issues for discussion. I certainly agree that the work, which is being done there, should continue.
On another hopeful aspect, this scheme was not successful under the old CDIS funding, but the Deputy may be aware that soon I will announce a capital programme to replace the CDIS funding, which was mainly under the Operational Programme for Tourism and which was European money. European money is no longer available. I want to put a capital programme of Exchequer funding in place because the work which was done under the CDIS funding was important in building up an infrastructure for the arts, galleries and museums throughout the country and I wish to see that continue. It may be an opportunity for this centre to put forward a proposal, once the details and application forms are available.
I am encouraged again by the Minister's response. I would ask her to put her political weight behind the effort to get the Department of Education and Science to establish support for the arts in transition scheme, which is coming out of its pilot stage and should be mainstreamed now.
On the task force between the Department of Education and Science and the Minister's Department, it is important to bridge that gap. I suggest, because of the work of this centre, a representative of the centre be appointed to that task force. The centre has the experience of trying to bridge that gap and it may have something practical to offer to the work of the task force. Perhaps the Minister might also have a word with her colleague in the Department of Education and Science.
Before the Minister replies, we will take a supplementary question from Deputy Higgins.
The Minister mentioned the CDIS scheme, which involved about £32 million. There were applications for projects under the scheme totalling about £87 million and the Department had to choose one in three of the applications. Did I understand the Minister to have stated that there is not a succeeding structure of funding for an extension of that programme and she proposes to do it exclusively from Exchequer funding? If that is the case, why is there not additional European funding, for example, to bridge the gap between £32 million and £87 million which would be for projects already evaluated?
To answer Deputy O'Keeffe's question, I have promised to take on board this issue regarding discussions with the Minister for Education and Science. The Deputy can be assured that it will be one of the issues which will be discussed at the interdepartmental group. I will let the Deputy know of any further discussions and of their outcome.
In answer to Deputy Higgins, he is perfectly right in saying that the CDIS funding, which was under the Operational Programme for Tourism, was only from 1994 to 1999 and, of course, like all these projects not all applicants were successful. That programme was very useful and important in ensuring there was an infrastructure. There is no comparable EU project to follow on from it and so there will be no gap. I have ensured funding for a capital programme which I will be announcing within a week or two.