Jim O'Keeffe
Question:6 Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the cost of the annual subsidy to the Aquatic Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31502/07]
Other Questions.
National Aquatic Centre.
Paul Connaughton
Question:7 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the subsidy per swim undertaken during 2007 in the National Aquatic Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31532/07]
Dinny McGinley
Question:22 Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of swims provided in 2007 in the National Aquatic Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31533/07]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 7 and 22 together.
Deputies will be aware the statutorily based National Sports Campus Development Authority has taken over the role and function of Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited since 1 January 2007 and that a fully-owned subsidiary of the authority, NSCDA (Operations) Limited, is now operating the National Aquatic Centre.
In order to provide commentary on the present trading and performance position it is necessary first to fill in the background. It will be recalled that the National Aquatic Centre was the first facility to be built as part of the sports campus at Abbotstown and opened in 2003. This was achieved on time and within budget. Shortly afterwards it successfully hosted the swimming events of the Special Olympics world summer games and the European Short Course Championships.
During 2005, CSID Ltd. initiated legal proceedings against Dublin Waterworld Limited, the private operators of the centre, because of the latter's failure to comply with its obligations under the lease. In November last, the Supreme Court confirmed an earlier order for possession of the centre in favour of CSID, and the facility was handed back to CSID on 1 December. Since then a primary objective has been to carry out a full "health check" on the centre and restore it to its original working standard. To this effect, to end of August last approximately €600,000 has been expended on remediation work, and that part of the work is now almost completed.
As the centre has reverted to the effective control of the authority by way of the above subsidiary company only within the last 12 months, a first full year's trading has yet to be completed. The issue of providing assistance for the operation of the National Aquatic Centre from a trading perspective, on an ongoing basis, is one that is being kept under ongoing consideration by the authority as the first year's trading has proceeded. However, preliminary indications at this stage are that a subsidy of up to €1.8 million will be required to fund the operational costs of the centre in 2007. At end year the outturn will be reviewed by the authority in the context of results of the first full year's trading and I have requested the authority to endeavour to reach a policy objective of at least break even in operating costs at the centre. At present approval for new funding has been given by the authority for €1.2 million capital works only.
In overall terms, I am advised that there have been more than 532,000 visits to the NAC, that is, in terms of the categories of swimming access, swimming lessons and membership, since the centre reverted to the overall control of the authority. This is regarded as a satisfactory base from which it can continue to grow.
I am dumbstruck by that information. I understand that is a very fine facility. It was always envisaged that it would be self-financing having had €70 million spent on it. We now find that in its first year of operation it will require a subsidy of almost €2 million. Is funding available from this year's Estimates to pay for it? How will the deficit be made up? Will a blank cheque be given to the organisation? Will it simply advise the Minister what its deficit is at the end of every year? Will it be linked to performance? Will it be linked to the number of swims it provides? Does the Minister agree the facility is costing money and is not performing as anticipated in part because it is a stand-alone facility whereas it was intended to be part of a major campus on which virtually no progress has been made over 11 years?
I am disappointed that the centre requires a subsidy. I am strongly of the view that it should reach break even at the very least and that the taxpayer should not be required to provide ongoing current subsidies to it. It is one thing to invest the capital, but it is another thing for the taxpayer to be drawn into day-to-day subsidies, which unfortunately we have been to the tune of €1.8 million, which represents the loss in running the centre in 2007. On the other hand in the calendar year there were 532,000 visits, which is a very high base on which to build. As I said in my reply it played a central role in the Special Olympics World Games and other events. There is much on which to build for the future. I do not want to tolerate an ongoing annual subsidy. I want to get to the situation where at the very least it breaks even and preferably is profitable. If we work on these numbers and keep the management pressure up, we can turn it around.
I refer to the answer to my previous question in which the Minister said that €54 million was allocated to the Irish Sports Council in 2007 and the overall budget for sport in 2007 was €295 million. While we certainly welcome that investment, much of it was given to capital projects. We need to consider value for money. With the additional subsidy to the aquatic centre, when does the Minister expect it to reach break even? For how long will the taxpayer continue to support the centre? It is a considerable drain given that a commitment should be going into other sporting activities. One would have hoped it would have reached break even by now.
This is the first year of an operational subsidy. I have made clear to the centre and do so again that the €1.8 million must be a once-off subsidy for this year. It must get itself to at least break even. I am totally opposed to getting involved in current day-to-day subsidies for operational facilities which should be able to break even at least. I want to examine the matter more closely to understand how I can bring that about.
The only way to resolve the issue is by maximising usage and getting value for money for the investment that has been made. However, that will only happen by increasing the footfall on the site, which will only happen if the rest of the campus is constructed. Who is driving that project? I understand the post of chief executive officer was advertised last May. Surely even the slowest recruitment process would yield somebody to run the campus. Without a CEO nobody will drive the project which is why it is sitting there year in and year out with nothing happening. We now have the aquatic centre open and losing money. It will continue to lose money until something happens on the site, which is remote.
It is being led by the National Sports Campus Development Authority.
Who is leading the authority?
A procedure is ongoing to recruit a chief executive.
It has been going on for eight months.
It has been going on for longer than I would have liked. I hope it can be brought to a conclusion in the not too distant future. Arrangements have been made to have a professional management put in place. In the meantime a former civil servant is involved in it directly. As part of phase 1, next week the FAI headquarters will open there. We have asked the board to review what should be contained in phase 2 and to make a proposal on the content.
Sports Capital Programme.
Simon Coveney
Question:8 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if consideration of applications under ACCESS and under the sports capital programme is in any way skewed in favour of designated gateways and hubs under the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31489/07]
Fully in accordance with Government policy, the national spatial strategy was taken into account, along with other relevant policies such as the Arts Council's partnership for the arts and the national development plan, when assessing applications under the recent round of the arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme, ACCESS. Of 67 successful projects 37 are in gateways or hubs designated under the national spatial strategy.
The sports capital programme is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. In the assessment of applications under the programme account is taken of the various strategic considerations, including the population served by the facility in its immediate area and surrounding hinterland, distance to comparable facilities and contribution of the facility to increasing performance and participation.
While the location of projects in gateways or hubs under the national spatial strategy is not specifically one of the assessment criteria, nonetheless significant funding has been invested in sports facilities located in hubs and gateways as identified by the national spatial strategy. The Department is seeking to be more strategic in its approach to the future provision of Government funding for all sports facilities. Development of the Department's national sports facilities strategy is under way and the recommendations of the national spatial strategy are being considered as part of that strategy which should provide an improved policy base for the more effective use of public funds and will assist in the targeting, support and funding of areas of greatest need.
It is a shame that the national spatial strategy has not been one of the criteria. I had understood all Government spending was supposed to be proofed against its coherence and consistency with the national spatial strategy. I believe that approximately €40 million remains to be spent on such sports facilities. It is essential to avoid a scattergun approach to spending. It is not that spending should not take place in other areas, but it should be of a lesser nature than that allocated to gateways. The argument for cultural centres is identical to the economic arguments for gateways. A critical mass of population is needed for them to be sustainable. The smaller ones in the hubs or other towns in counties are far more likely to thrive because they can be linked to the gateway activities. There will be synergy leading to better value for money for all projects they put on.
Does the Minister agree we need a real focus on the gateways? If they are to mean anything and if we are to have a real spatial strategy this is one area in which we can make our mark and bring vibrancy to the arts in every county rather than dissipate it in a way that results in a proliferation of physical facilities and no vibrancy in the arts.
As I said, 37 of the 67 successful projects are in gateway or hub towns.
That happened by accident — there was no strategy.
The designation of towns as hubs and gateways was one of the criteria taken into account. It would be wrong of me to say it was the only criterion.
The Minister just read out a reply that said it was not one of the criteria.
Some of the other criteria related to the project and how it is considered in the artistic world. One cannot decide to subsidise an artistic project just because it is based in a town that happens to be a hub or a gateway.
I must have misunderstood the Minister's initial reply. I understood him to say that gateway or hub status was not one of the criteria at all.
The regional sports centres in Waterford, Letterkenny, Finglas, Tullamore and Galway — I could go through the entire list — were funded under this programme. Well over half of the projects are located in towns which have been designated as gateways or hubs.
By accident.
While that was one of the factors taken into account when decisions were made on funding, it is fair to say that it was not the only factor to be considered.
Decentralisation Programme.
Billy Timmins
Question:9 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of those staff choosing to decentralise to Killarney with his Department who are staff of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31560/07]
Andrew Doyle
Question:12 Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff opting for decentralisation to Kilkenny with the Arts Council who are relocating from Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31564/07]
Seán Barrett
Question:14 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of the staff opting for decentralisation under either phase one or two who are relocating from Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31515/07]
Billy Timmins
Question:18 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of Arts Council staff who have requested transfer to Kilkenny under the decentralisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31561/07]
Tom Hayes
Question:32 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of non-Arts Council who staff have requested transfer to Kilkenny under the decentralisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31562/07]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:94 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the full extent to which his Department has implemented the Government’s decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31844/07]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 12, 14, 18, 32 and 94 together.
Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the entire Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism with the exception of the national archives, comprising approximately 130 posts, has been designated as one of the "early mover" Departments by the Decentralisation Implementation Group. Deputies will be aware that the Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to the full implementation of the decentralisation programme, as provided for in the programme for Government, including the movement of departmental headquarters. Significant progress has been made to that end. I expect the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism will have fully relocated to new premises in Killarney by the end of next year.
The original number of applications received under the central application facility for transfer to Killarney exceeded the numbers required for all of the grades, with the exception of the principal officer grade where there is a shortfall of five. Eight of the staff members originally serving in the Department have indicated they wish to relocate with the Department. The process of transferring staff from other Departments and offices who had applied through the CAF commenced in 2005 on a phased basis. Some 80 staff who have opted to relocate are now in place in the Department. Some 70 staff, 24 of whom relocated from Dublin, have relocated to temporary accommodation at Fossa in Killarney in two phases. The first phase in September 2006 involved the transfer of 46 staff and the second phase in July of this year involved a further 24 staff. A further ten staff who are based in the Department's offices in Dublin are due to transfer. Seven workers who are still listed on the CAF to transfer to my Department are based in Dublin. The remaining staff in the Department who do not want to move to Killarney will transfer to other Departments in Dublin or Departments which are scheduled to decentralise to other locations. This ongoing process will proceed until all officers who are not transferring to Killarney are transferred to other organisations. Following a tendering process, the OPW selected PJ Hegarty and Sons to develop the permanent building for the Department's headquarters in Killarney, under a design-build fixed price contract. The OPW is managing the project for my Department. The construction of the new building in Killarney commenced in May of this year and the anticipated completion date is the last quarter of 2008.
Three agencies operating under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism have also been selected to decentralise, including the Arts Council which is to move to Kilkenny. None of these bodies was designated as an early mover. All the prepared decentralisation plans which were submitted to the Decentralisation Implementation Group in 2004 are under review and are being revised. Some 49 staff are employed in the Arts Council. Forty applications have been received under the CAF from people who wish to transfer to Killarney. None of the staff of the Arts Council at the time of the announcement of the programme has opted to relocate. The employment contracts of seven staff members who have been recruited since the announcement contain a relocation condition. The Office of Public Works is assessing a number of options for suitable locations and properties in Kilkenny for the Arts Council. I have asked the chairs of the agencies under the remit of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, including the Arts Council, to renew the drive to make progress on their transfer under the decentralisation programme. Furthermore, the Secretary General of my Department, together with the CEOs of the three agencies, met the Decentralisation Implementation Group last week to discuss the progress that has been made so far and to discuss future plans for the relocation of the bodies.
Some renewed drive will be required if the staff of the Arts Council are to move to Kilkenny. Not one of them wants to go. I did not catch all the figures given by the Minister. How many of the 170 staff of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism — I do not refer to the staff of other Departments who are prepared to work in the decentralised Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism — have opted to participate in the decentralisation programme?
The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism has 130 staff. Some 229 people who wish to work in the Department's decentralised offices are on the central application facility list.
How many of them are from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism?
Seventy officials have already moved to Killarney.
How many of them moved from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism?
Is the Deputy asking how many of the current Killarney staff came from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, as opposed to other Departments?
Yes. Perhaps that information was in the Minister's answer.
Some of them came from other Departments and agencies. Some of them came from Cork. Some of them did not come directly from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
That is really my concern. The Department will end up with additional staff in Dublin that it does not need, at least for a period of time until they can be relocated, and that will have financial implications. These changes will also have implications for the running of the Department. Will the Department lose administrative staff during the relocation? Will it lose policy staff? At what level will these changes have an affect? Will all the principal officers and assistant secretaries be lost to the Department? Will the Secretary General continue to work in the Department? Who exactly is going and who is not? This move has huge potential to cause the Department to lose expertise and experience. I would like to tease out whether the Minister shares such concerns. Having the wrong staff is almost worse than having too many staff. Does the Minister agree there may be problems of co-ordination and cohesion if the Arts Council is in Kilkenny, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is in Killarney, most of our cultural institutions are in Dublin and the tourism bodies are split between this jurisdiction and the North? The various strands of the Department's activity will be all over the place. I wonder if these plans are manageable, particularly if the Department ends up with policy staff who are entirely new to the business.
It would be wrong of me to pretend that this is an easy process or that it is painless for the staff involved. The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is finding it fairly traumatic to move such a large number of people and to implement the changes which are associated with that in terms of policy personnel. The Government is committed to its decentralisation policy — everybody is doing their best to make it a success — and it will settle down in due course. I appreciate that the transition period is not an easy one for many people. Those who have been based in Dublin for a long time are finding it particularly difficult. Over 80 staff in the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, which has been designated as one of the "early movers", are now based in Killarney. We intend to move all our staff down there, including our senior policy people.
Are all the senior policy people going?
The Department will probably be the first Department to decentralise completely.
Are all of the top policy people, including the assistant secretaries and the principal officers, going to Killarney?
That is the intention.
Have they chosen to go?
That process, which involves the central applications facility, is ongoing.
The Minister does not sound too hopeful.
I am somewhat mesmerised by the subdivisions within the figures given by the Minister in respect of those who are to move out of Dublin. I am interested in the wider aspects of decentralisation. How many of those who are relocating to Killarney are moving from places other than Dublin? Will those people be included in the statistics which will be given as part of the overall monitoring of the decentralisation out of Dublin? I am curious about the transfer of public servants between offices outside Dublin, particularly if such relocations are to be counted as part of the decentralisation programme.
I acknowledge that the decentralisation process involves a strong element of relocation. Some of the numbers I have seen indicate that approximately two thirds of the staff who will move to Killarney will be relocating, as opposed to decentralising from Dublin. It depends on how the central applications facility finally makes decisions about different grades. It is fair to acknowledge the significant element of relocation which accounts for one half to two thirds in many cases. It is hoped this will level out as the central applications facility does its work and liaises with Departments and agencies
There will be additional costs incurred due to the loss of experienced staff and the loss of corporate memory and these will be over and above the obvious costs such as new buildings. Has a training budget been put aside as new staff may come from Departments which have nothing to do with arts, sport or tourism?
My administrative budget includes whatever costs are involved in decentralisation or relocation, including necessary training.
Is it the intention to keep this Department together as a single unit? How does the Minister go to Killarney, to Kilkenny and to where ever the tourism section of his Department will be located? How can he possibly drive to Killarney one day and go from there to Kilkenny? Is there any intention of keeping a departmental presence in Dublin?
I wish to give an example of how the Department facilitates members of the public. I know of a club which was anxious to submit an application for a grant. The closing date for submission was near and a representative of the club took the train to Killarney to deliver the application form. He told me that there was quite a number of people who had also travelled to Killarney to reach the office. It does not make much sense that in order to submit an application form, people have to take the train to Killarney. Is there no way to organise a facility in the capital city to provide advice about grants or the lodgement of application forms or whatever may be required? I appreciate that, heretofore, people in County Kerry had to travel to Dublin but, by and large, a greater volume of people from the greater Dublin area would need the advice and assistance of the section of the Department dealing with sport.
All Departments, the Civil Service and the public service, face significant challenges as a result of the decentralisation process. The central applications facility and the decentralisation unit in the Department of Finance are involved in the careful planning of decentralisation so that its voluntary nature is maintained and that it meets the needs of as many families as possible and with the least amount of disruption. I imagine it will be agreed with Departments as to whether individual Departments keep a facility in the capital. It would be practical to have some facility available in Dublin city.
How will the Minister manage to deal with three different locations?
Decentralisation is not built around individual Ministers or ministries and it should not be. A strategic approach was adopted as to the locations. I do not see it as a matter for the individual careers of individual political people. The headquarters of a Department will be in a certain location and the Minister in charge of that Department will have to get themselves there.
In the case of the Minister it is not just a single Department because it is responsible for arts, sport and tourism. The three sections of the Department are not going to the one location. It is an impossible task. The Minister's senior officials will be in Kilkenny, in Killarney and in another location. Will they travel to meet the Minister or will he travel to meet them?
If I lived in County Donegal, it would be the same problem.
The seat of government is in Dublin. Will the Minister outline to the House how he intends to ensure he is able to be present in the Departments for which he is responsible? Is it a case that he will never be there?
The mountain must come to Mohammed.
I have visited the Killarney offices and will do so on a regular basis.
Is it the intention that Ministers will base themselves in decentralised offices? Will the Minister maintain an office in Dublin and, if so, will it be staffed by his personal, constituency or communications adviser? Will departmental policy-makers be retained in Dublin?
These are broader questions connected with the decentralisation programme generally and on which policy decisions will need to be taken.
The Minister's Department is the front runner.
It is not appropriate that I take those kind of policy decisions just for my Department at this time. We are one of the early movers and all our staff are committed to moving——
At least half of them are not committed to moving.
Nobody is moving.
We are committed to moving the Department.
The Minister is committed.
It is Government policy to move the Department.
That is different from saying the staff are committed.
That policy is being implemented. I believe it will be successful when it settles down. I believe it will be to the benefit of the entire nation and not just to the capital city; it will also work to the benefit of the regions. Individual arrangements about very senior civil servants and Ministers have yet to be finally worked out.
Sports Funding.
Alan Shatter
Question:10 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the plans he has to extend the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31519/07]
Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, which was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 for the purpose of further developing both racing industries. Under the provisions of the 2001 Act, the fund receives a guaranteed level of finance based on excise duty on off-course betting in the preceding year, subject to a minimum level based on the 2000 amount adjusted for inflation. Any shortfall in the amount generated by the excise duty is made up by direct Exchequer subvention.
In 2004, the Government agreed to increase the aggregate limit on the fund from €254 million to €550 million, to allow for continuation of the fund for a further four-year period to 2008. Since 2001, this fund has provided a guaranteed level of funding to Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, and Bord na gCon, which, by the end of 2007, will have amounted to over €375 million and almost €94 million respectively. In 2007, HRI has received more than €58 million and Bord na gCon has received over €14 million. Since the establishment of the fund, a major period of development of both the horse and greyhound racing industries has resulted.
This funding has allowed Ireland to develop into a world centre of excellence for horse racing. Horse Racing Ireland has undertaken a capital investment programme that has underpinned growth in the sector. In 2004, HRI launched a €250 million capital development fund for Irish racecourses, which is being spent over five years, to continue the substantial upgrading of racecourses. HRI will provide up to €150 million in grant aid and the racecourses will finance the balance from their own resources.
The fund has also contributed significantly to the almost €90 million that has been invested in the improved facilities now available at greyhound tracks around Ireland. The allocation of €70 million under the new national development plan for capital investment for the horse and greyhound racing industries will assist long-term planning, which will result in the further development of a network of modern well-managed facilities that will continue to be attractive to the public.
To date the fund has not only helped towards providing some top class racing venues and facilities, but it has also underpinned significant employment in both industries. The prize money it has facilitated has been an important boost for both horse and greyhound breeding, which are significant net contributors to the economy and have an important role to play in generating employment, particularly in the tourism and agri-economy sectors, making it a significant regional employer and an important contributor to rural communities.
The current round of the fund is due to expire at the end of 2008. A review of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund will be undertaken in the coming year and any extension of the fund will require the approval of the Government and the Oireachtas.
I thank the Minister, who has partially answered my question. When the funding arrangement runs out next year, would an extension to either the date or the funding cap level be effected by regulation or would it require primary legislation?
My second question pertains to the ending of the stallion regime, which I understand will expire in August. I am aware its abolition was due to pressure from the EU and from the Irish trade union movement. It is easy to dismiss this issue as being unimportant because horse breeding is considered to be the preserve of the very rich, although I am unsure whether this is the case. However, this industry is extremely valuable to Ireland and, over the years, we have developed a tremendous reputation in this regard. Certainly, Ireland is the leading horse breeder in Europe. Other countries against which we compete, such as Australia and the United States in Kentucky, have extremely generous incentive schemes. In that context, is the Minister open to replacing the stallion scheme with a measure to ensure that we will maintain our position and status in the world?
The stallion scheme is a matter for the Ministers for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Finance and is not a matter for the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.
Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle was not listening to the question. I asked whether the Minister was open to other kinds of incentives and aids. They do not have to be tax incentives. I accept the tax incentive has gone.
I assure the Deputy that the breeding issue is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and she is discussing breeding.
However, tourism is also involved in this case.
The Minister may reply if he wishes.
As I noted in my reply on the current round of the fund, this statutory fund has been of enormous benefit to both industries. The fact that it is on a statutory basis and is ring-fenced in that fashion has made it enormously successful. In the normal course of events, the current round of the fund is due to expire in 2008. A review of that fund will now be undertaken in the course of the year. It is well known that any extension of the fund will require the approval of the House.
Will it require legislation?
It will require primary legislation. Has the Minister a view on the tourism potential of the horse racing industry?
What is the Deputy's question?
I refer to the need to ensure that Ireland maintains its position and the reputation it has built up over many years and on which much money was spent.
I refer to the figures I provided regarding the hundreds of millions of euro that are associated with the industry, as well as the employment levels. For example, 16,500 people are employed in the horse industry, as well as almost 11,000 people on the dog racing side. In addition, between 80,000 to 90,000 tourist visits are involved. Consequently, it is clear that the scheme has been operating highly successfully. However, this does not detract from the Government's requirement to review it next year and to bring forward any necessary legislation before the Oireachtas in due course.
I concur with my colleague, Deputy Olivia Mitchell. This is of tremendous importance to the entire industry and those involved in establishing this scheme must be congratulated because it has done a power of good for the image of Irish racing and the associated industry. Does the Minister agree there is much misinformed comment regarding rich people receiving money? This measure protects employment in areas where it would not exist otherwise. I refer to rural areas in particular. This industry is highly mobile and the fear is always that unless one can retain one's stallions in Ireland, the mares will not be brought into the country. Consequently, this industry could be destroyed overnight. As both the racing industry and the breeding industry are important, I urge the Minister to ensure the renewal of this scheme. As Deputy Mitchell has suggested, other schemes should be considered to ensure that our breeding industry is not affected in any way.
I share the view that this is a major industry, which in many ways is unique to Ireland because of our association with the horse and greyhound industries. Whatever is done, care should be taken to ensure that its success will be enhanced and one should not do anything that would take from it. It has been an enormously successful story for Ireland and is one on which we should build. Nevertheless, this does not detract from the Government's obligation to review constantly legislation, which we also must do in this case.
I should have called Deputy Upton earlier. I apologise.
I thank the Ceann Comhairle. While I appreciate the value and importance of the horse breeding and horse racing industry, lest the greyhounds feel somewhat neglected on this issue——
I agree with Deputy Upton.
They are highly sensitive.
—— the Minister should comment on the greyhound industry. A major social agenda has developed around greyhound racing, which is also highly important. There are some excellent greyhound tracks in Dublin and around the country in locations such as Cork and Galway. I have visited each of the aforementioned tracks fairly recently. It is important to recognise that, to a great extent, this is a developing industry and resources should also be committed to it.
As I noted, more than 11,000 people are employed either directly or indirectly in the greyhound sector, which is highly significant. The Deputy is correct to suggest that apart from its intrinsic value, greyhound racing has become a major tourism and social attraction nationwide. It is a good way for everyone to enjoy themselves, perhaps as an alternative to the traditional couple of hours in the pub.
National Archives.
Phil Hogan
Question:11 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the status of the National Archives plans to invest in facilities to house them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31508/07]
The redevelopment of the National Archives headquarters forms part of the national development plan and €20 million in seed capital has been earmarked for the project. The Office of Public Works, OPW, has carried out significant preliminary work on the accommodation brief and the likely cost of providing the National Archives with new storage and other accommodation at its redeveloped Bishop Street headquarters.
It is now necessary to conduct an economic cost assessment on the project. When this assessment has been completed, the project will then be discussed with the OPW, the Department of Finance and the National Development Finance Agency as the likely procurement process will be on a public private partnership basis.
In recent years, significant work has been completed at the Bishop Street premises to enhance and expand the archives' footprint there. The Land Commission is co-located in the building with the archives and as the commission staff and files are being relocated in the context of decentralisation, more space is being made available to the archives. In addition, alternative propositions to Bishop Street have been evaluated, such as the former Coláiste Mhuire site. This was found to be unsuitable due to the storage requirements of the archives. The redevelopment of the Bishop Street premises is one of a number of large cultural and sports projects being advanced by the Department and the OPW under the national development plan and due priority is now being accorded to it.
The 1977 release of public records will be on schedule.
The Minister could make a name for himself that would be long-remembered by ending the national scandal whereby the National Archives are closeted in a biscuit factory. Most of them are completely inaccessible, are piled on pallets and could be rotting away, for all Members know. This is an absolute scandal. The Minister has provided a flavour of its history. The archives moved to their current site on a temporary basis 20 years ago. It is time for someone to take this issue by the scruff of its neck and make a decision on what will happen. While money is available in the national development plan, I foresee it running to its conclusion without anything happening.
Ireland needs a purpose-built building for its National Archives as the existing facility is a disgrace. This country prides itself on its interest in the past and in its culture, history and heritage. Although Irish people go around the world talking about it, we cannot look after it at home. The Minister must agree this constitutes a real disgrace. The Land Commission, which occupies part of the building, is in possession of extremely valuable material that is completely inaccessible. It must also be relocated from its current site. Were a fire to break out there, Ireland could forget about having any kind of National Archives. Consequently, there is real urgency in this regard. Apart from the fire issue, we owe it to ourselves and to our past to do something. If the Minister took this issue by the scruff of the neck and made decisions about it he would be very well thought of. If he were to do this, I certainly would be more than willing to say very nice things about him both nationally and in the constituency.
I am sure Deputy Mitchell would do that anyway.
The redevelopment of the headquarters of the National Archives forms part of the national development plan. The sum of €20 million in seed capital has been allocated for this project. Given that Deputy Mitchell has specifically raised this issue today, I will ask the Secretary General and his staff to give me a special report on it.
It is one thing having the money and the intention to do something, but there does not appear to be any direction.
Question No. 12 answered with QuestionNo. 9.
Arts Funding.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:13 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the support he has given or proposes to give to other towns and cities here that wish to hold an event similar to the culture night held in Dublin in September 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31449/07]
On 14 September last, which was designated as culture night, key artistic and cultural venues in Dublin City, including the national cultural institutions, extended their opening hours until late in the evening. This provided the public with increased access to the various collections, workshops and other events hosted by the institutions.
My Department provided €15,000 and €35,000 in 2006 and 2007 respectively to Temple Bar Cultural Trust, the co-ordinators of the Dublin event, for costs associated with that event. Arising from a request by my Department, the proposal by Temple Bar Cultural Trust for the 2007 funding included an undertaking to investigate the possible extension of the culture night model to areas outside Dublin.
An important element of the success of the culture night concept is the concentration of cultural organisations. In areas where there is a vibrant hub of cultural facilities and a broad cultural offering, the event attracts a much greater level of public participation. I understand that preliminary discussions have taken place between Temple Bar Cultural Trust and local authorities in Cork, Galway and Limerick. A meeting has also taken place between the trust and representatives from the cultural community in Belfast with a view to launching a North-South culture night co-operation project for 2009.
Culture night in Dublin promotes access to and participation in the cultural life of the city. The event attracted more than 50,000 people in 2007, 64% of whom visited cultural organisations for the first time. Another major success was the large number of children, young people and active retired who participated in the event. If the culture night initiative were adopted by other cities or towns, it could support existing arts and cultural development strategies.
A key factor in the establishment of culture night in Dublin was the partnering of the cultural community with the business community, and the active participation of the tourism and transportation bodies. The extension of culture night to other cities and towns would require a similar commitment to the event from these communities and bodies.
The decision to host a culture night event is, ultimately, a matter for individual local authorities. To date, my Department has not received proposals from any organisation outside Dublin regarding such events. However, I can assure the Deputy that any proposals submitted on this matter will be considered.
The idea of a culture night is an excellent one. I understand it was very well attended and was a great boost for many museums and cultural institutions. In my constituency, areas like the Liberties and Kilmainham have a particular claim to cultural institutions and museums and these were proactive and pleased with this development. I would like to see the idea being extended to larger towns and cities around the country.
The Minister stated his Department has not received any proposals from the local authorities in these areas. Perhaps the Department should take the initiative on this matter and promote and encourage them as they may not be aware there is a process in which they can engage. Clearly the benefits are enormous. It is also important from the point of view of individuals who cannot get to these institutions during the day. The fact that it is free is a major enticement and would engage people and get them more involved on a longer term basis.
The Deputy is correct. The Department should draw the matter to the attention of local authorities. I will arrange to do this as a matter of urgency.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.