Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Oct 2008

Vol. 663 No. 1

Other Questions.

Cultural Events.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

124 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on expanding the culture night in 2009 to allow greater participation over, for example, a weekend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33786/08]

Dublin hosted the first culture night in 2006. On culture night key artistic and cultural venues extend their opening hours until late in the evening, providing the public with increased access. Since then the Department's focus has been to develop the event, in conjunction with the Temple Bar cultural trust, which co-ordinates the event by encouraging more venues to participate and to remain open later in the evening. The trust met representatives from the cultural community in Belfast with a view to launching a North-South culture night project for 2009. In addition, following a request from the Department, the trust investigated the possible extension of the culture night concept to areas outside Dublin.

An important element for the success of the culture night concept is the concentration of cultural organisations in an area able to offer a range of cultural activities. Taking into account the findings received from the Temple Bar cultural trust, the Department offered assistance to the city managers of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford in the promotion of culture night in these cities. I am pleased to say that all four cities participated in culture night on Friday, 19 September 2008. The Department also wrote to the County and City Managers Association highlighting the high level of participation in Dublin's culture night and how successful the event is in building and sustaining a strategy for cultural tourism.

Over 80 arts and cultural organisations participated in the Dublin event in 2008, including the national cultural institutions. It is estimated that 100,000 people took part, many of whom would have been visiting Dublin's cultural organisations for the first time. The cities of Limerick, Galway, Cork and Waterford also programmed approximately 50 events on the night.

Culture night promotes access to and participation in the cultural life of each city. A key factor in its success to date is the partnering of the cultural community with the business community, and the active participation of the tourism and transportation bodies. It is modelled on similar successful events in other European cities, which concentrate on providing cultural and artistic events on one evening, in some cases round the clock, rather than over a weekend.

It is nice for the Opposition spokesperson to be able to say congratulations and well done to everybody involved in culture night. I attended, but the problem I had was there was too much to do. There were too many options, but that is not really a criticism. The event was excellent and should be flagged. Many people I know had nothing to do with cultural events prior to that, but they were very happy to participate on the night and take part. They enjoyed being able to see the various museums and galleries open to them, including Leinster House.

If I have a criticism it is that because there was so much to do and so many places to go, it was not extended to two nights so that people could have returned another evening or the following day to see some of the other venues. I appreciate the value of having everything on one night because there is a great buzz around that, but it is worth exploring the idea of extending culture night. I should say that culture night catered for all age groups and people were happy about that.

I thought the Deputy was going to mention the Brazilians.

I thank the Deputy for her comments. We all agree culture night was an outstanding success. It got great public coverage, which helped bring the message of what was happening to people. One can never win — the Deputy suggested there was too much to do, whereas, usually, the criticism is there is not enough to do. Culture night is a work in progress in terms of learning how to manage a programme of this scale. It is heartening that the public responds in such significant numbers and from all age groups to these types of events. We will consider how we can maximise the interest.

One of the major benefits of how culture night is structured is that it is cost effective. We do not have to invest significant funds in it, which is what makes it such a huge success. We do not want to turn the event into something that costs millions to organise. It has good success and balance and we must consider how we can retain its ethos and flavour if we need to expand it, not just in Dublin, but in the other four cities. It could expand to other cities also, such as Wexford, Kilkenny and others. Perhaps it would be more important and beneficial to consider expanding it throughout the country rather than just increasing participation in Dublin. That is what I would like to do in the future.

Tourism Promotion.

Tom Hayes

Question:

125 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the delay in the introduction of a pre-clearance facility for travellers to the US; if he has had discussions with the Department of Transport on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33913/08]

As the Deputy will be aware, primary responsibility for the negotiations on introducing pre-clearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports rests with my colleague, the Minister for Transport. As I said previously, the introduction of pre-clearance facilities would have some positive aspects for Irish tourism. If such an agreement could be reached, it would help Dublin and Shannon airports to better position themselves as hubs for US bound flights. Furthermore, such an agreement could in time encourage the development of new routes into Shannon and Dublin airports from some of the smaller American airports.

With regard to the finalisation of an agreement, I understand that significant progress has been made on the issue. Good progress has been made in the interim and I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Transport, is hopeful that this agreement can be concluded in the very near future. Work will then commence on drafting the necessary legislation, which will be introduced as soon as possible.

The Department will continue to liaise closely with the Department of Transport on the issue and when an agreement is finalised, I will encourage all the relevant stakeholders, including the relevant tourist agencies, to take all necessary steps to maximise the potential benefits of the new procedures.

The Minister knows I raise this issue every month. As former Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen appreciates the importance of pre-clearance facilities. It was promised these would be in place by the end of this year, but it is clear that will not happen. It was promised to Shannon in the context of open skies to help it capitalise on that. The advantages of open skies have been almost eroded by current events in terms of finance throughout the world, particularly in America. Shannon is concerned that it will lose its advantage to Dublin and that pre-clearance facilities will be available in Dublin as soon as in Shannon. My concern is they will be available in some other country before either Dublin or Shannon. That is a major concern.

The reason I press this issue is there is a real problem emerging in terms of access to Ireland. The Minister is aware tour operators have been falling by the wayside over the summer and that airlines have been pulling out of Ireland. I will not mention the problems in Aer Lingus. There is a genuine fear that other airlines will pull out of Ireland as a result of the shrinkage of the market. If we had pre-clearance facilities ahead of other European countries, that would be a significant benefit in attracting airlines here. Once the pattern of travel is established, it is very difficult to change it. If France gets the facility first, airlines will fly there rather than to Ireland. It is, therefore, important we get it first. Can anything be done to introduce the legislation in advance of the finalisation of the agreement with the US?

As the Deputy will be aware, this is an issue with which I am very familiar because I was centrally involved in it as Minister for Transport, and I believe strongly in advancing it. Unfortunately, the difficulties rest with those with whom we have to work rather than with ourselves. A combination of groups, including Ireland and the US as sovereign Governments, are involved in developing the facilities.

The current Minister for Transport sees the benefits arising from an agreement and I have stated on several occasions the importance of putting Shannon in place because this would give the area a kick-start in terms of having the unique selling point of full clearance facilities for Ireland. I understand there is no intention on the American side to look elsewhere in Europe because it is satisfied that Ireland is the best location. Two facilities, Shannon and Dublin, would more than adequately cover the requirements.

I am aware of business people who have decided to transit through Dublin or Shannon to the United States because of the clearance facilities currently available. The Deputy will concur that the new facilities would add greatly to the selling points that Ireland offers. Not only do they offer significant benefits for outbound as opposed to incoming traffic, but they also have great potential in terms of sustaining existing airlines and attracting new long-haul routes.

We are told that the legislation needed to establish pre-clearance facilities in Dublin and Shannon will not be introduced until next year. British Airways has already announced that it will use London City Airport and Shannon Airport as transit stages for New York. Will the legislation be in place before these flights commence?

I understand other European airports, including Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt, are seeking to develop pre-clearance facilities. It is important that the legislation is fast-tracked because Shannon and Dublin need to be established.

Corporate jets provide further opportunities. Approximately 700 corporate jets cross the Atlantic Ocean each week and I understand these will stop at either Shannon or Dublin to get pre-clearance. They will be of significant benefit to my region, particularly given the current turbulence in Aer Lingus. I ask the Minister to press his colleague to fast-track this legislation. I understand that the Irish authorities are holding up progress but that the deal has been done on the American side.

I assure the Deputy that work had already commenced on the legislation while I was Minister, so there is no question of my colleague being slow in progressing it. The Government is aware of the benefits of this agreement. We will certainly endeavour to establish facilities at Shannon at the earliest opportunity, although the construction work on Dublin Airport will have to be completed before a facility is established there because it will be located in the new terminal building.

I understand that all the major technical and legal issues that have arisen in respect of both the US and Ireland have been resolved and we are now working on minor issues. It is the intention of the Minister for Transport to bring the legislation before the House as soon as it is ready and I am sure all Deputies will want to support that so that the facilities can be opened at the earliest opportunity.

I ask for clarity on the nature of the delay. When I last asked this question in June, I received more or less the same answer. Has anything happened since then? Has the Minister met his counterpart in the United States and what has to happen next in regard to the legislation?

The Deputy can elicit much of that information from the Minister for Transport. I do not wish to avoid her question but I simply do not know who he has met. I know, however, that he is very committed to this issue. I had a conversation with him recently on this and I am almost certain that he has held meetings but I would need to confirm that. A number of technical issues arose that needed to be resolved, although these were not necessarily on our side. One of the main issues is that the global environment for travel and security has changed dramatically. The entire spectrum of requirements in terms of the information flows sought by the US had to be rethought. I assure the House, however, that it is our intention to get Shannon up and running as quickly as possible. This will provide an enormous boost to the airport by making it more attractive to new airlines.

I ask the Minister to ensure his colleague progress the matter.

Departmental Expenditure.

Noel Coonan

Question:

126 Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the precise impact, and the spending programmes in relation to same, the €6 million cutback in spending will have in 2008, as announced in July 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33882/08]

Liz McManus

Question:

128 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to cut services provided directly by his Department or through bodies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33761/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 128 together.

As required by the Government in dealing with the current financial difficulties, an amount of €5.978 million was identified as the savings to be achieved this year on the Votes of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the National Gallery. The savings will be as follows: €3 million in Department operated capital programmes for cultural projects; €2 million in savings among our agencies in grant programmes; and an additional €978,000 in savings in administration costs and other efficiencies across the Department, the National Gallery and our agencies.

In advising our agencies of the budgetary adjustments, the Department requested them to apply the savings in such a way as to have minimal impact on the levels of service to the public. As the Deputies are aware, the Government is currently preparing for budget 2009 and until such time as the budget has been announced, I am not prepared to speculate on its impact of the Department's Vote.

In view of that has happened in the HSE despite the requests made to it to avoid impacting on frontline services, I should not expect a better result from the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism or the agencies under its remit. In regard to administrative savings, where stands the decentralisation programme? The Department was an early mover and half of its staff have transferred.

Nearly all have moved.

Is it intended to proceed with decentralisation? I understand that accommodation was being sought for the Minister and his departmental secretaries in Dublin.

This is not specifically a question on decentralisation.

I am asking about the associated administrative costs.

The programme is not under the remit of the Minister.

It is a separate question.

He has to meet the administrative costs from his Department's budget.

Do the consultancy fees associated with the Abbey Theatre, which are all we seem to have, come directly under the Minister's remit? There is no sign of progress on the project despite the large sums spent on consultancy fees.

The Deputy is casting a broad net with the phrase "administrative budget".

The Minister has given me no information on where the savings are to be made.

That is not fair.

The budget for cultural projects is to be reduced by €3 million but he has not indicated which specific projects will be discontinued. If the Minister is willing to share the details, I will ask specific questions. What agencies are being deprived of money and what projects will be affected?

I provided the Deputy with a formidable amount of information in response to an earlier question. The number of validated claims received by the Department from the various promoters was lower than anticipated this year. This probably reflects the general position of the construction industry. In that way, we were able to make savings.

My Department has almost completely decentralised to Killarney and only a few of us are left in Kildare Street. Work on our new building will be complete by the end of the year. Obviously we will have to maintain a presence in the Dáil when it is sitting and so on, for which a small cohort will be required. This will be the first fully decentralised Department, to which I look forward.

It might be the only one.

There is no difficulty from my point of view in seeing the programme completed.

The Minister mentioned capital for some of the cultural programmes, some of which are very important. We would like to know which ones will be targeted. From what the Minister said, he will not elaborate much further. However, the issue is important. There is also a more general point about the capital programme. Although I have mentioned that we have duplication, for example, in some sports, I do not think we have this in cultural agencies or buildings, particularly in Dublin, but also around the country. There may be a case for considering the Labour Party's proposal on the redeployment of people involved in the construction industry. If there are big capital programmes, perhaps the focus could be redirected towards these, similar to our proposal for schools.

The reality is that these measures still require money. As the Deputy knows, decisions in these areas are taken by the Arts Council, not by me. The council organises its budgets. We spoke to the agencies when we originally made our contribution to the adjustments made in July this year on behalf of the Government. My understanding is that it has not really had a direct effect in stopping projects or withdrawing their funding. However, some projects which it was anticipated would take place have not come to fruition this year, although they may well begin next year. This represents a small amount of money spread over a number of projects. I do not disagree — nor would anybody else — about the importance of these projects, particularly because they affect small communities and the benefit is there for all to see.

Sports Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

127 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if policy changes are envisaged in terms of funding programmes in view of the ESRI study Sporting Lives: An Analysis of a Lifetime of Irish Sport and other research by that body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33941/08]

The Irish Sports Council, ISC, which is funded by my Department has statutory responsibility for encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and increasing participation in recreational sport. All sports organisations funded by the ISC, including national governing bodies and local sports partnerships, are encouraged to target all sections of society in seeking to increase participation in sport. The ISC, within its research remit, is striving to develop a profound understanding of sport in Ireland that can inform policy and investment in the coming years.

The ISC has commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute to undertake studies on its behalf. The fifth report in the series, Sporting Lives: An Analysis of a Lifetime of Irish Sport, sets out to track the participation of Irish people in sport over the course of their lives based on a survey of adult participation in sport in 2003. The data from the survey also allowed for an analysis of the amount and type of sport played in Ireland in recent decades and the relationship between participation in sport and personal health. The report concludes that the current generation of Irish adults are playing more sport than previous generations. That is an extremely positive outcome and one with which, collectively, we should be very pleased. Interestingly, the report indicates that 76% of all sport for people over 18 years consists of individual activities rather than team-based sports. The report also sets out the benefits of participation and concludes that people who participate in sport and exercise throughout their lives generally experience better physical and mental health than non-participants.

The report is not without its challenges, particularly with regard to gender gaps — as I mentioned to Deputy Upton — and socio-economic gaps in sports participation. Obviously the report requires careful consideration by the Department and the ISC with a view to assessing what changes might usefully be made to existing sports policy and such consideration is taking place.

The series of ESRI reports endorse the view that, as an activity with proven benefits, sport has a strong case for substantial public expenditure to support initiatives which can increase participation. This justifies the significant Government investment in sport in recent years.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

This increased investment has supported the promotion and development of Irish sport and the provision of a modern sports infrastructure, with high quality facilities catering for the participation, coaching, training and competition needs of all types of sport and at all levels. The amount of funding available for sport in 2008 is more than €335 million which will serve to further enhance and develop the sports sector. The increased funding provided for the ISC — from €13 million in 2000 to more than €57 million this year — has enabled a number of significant interventions for the benefit of disadvantaged areas. Examples include the local sports partnership network and the Buntús programme for primary schools in local sports partnership areas which involves children in sport from a very young age.

The Minister referred to a trend towards participation in individual sports. This is a reflection of lifestyles and people's unwillingness to give the time and commitment involved with team sports. It was in that context I tabled the question. If there is an argument that because more people are involved in individual sports, funding should go towards facilities for individual sports rather than team sports, I contend there should be no reduction of funding for facilities for team and field sports. I am anxious to hear the Minister's views on that issue.

I agree with the Deputy wholeheartedly. Team sports are at the core of what sport is about, particularly for younger people. Participation in team sports teaches our children so much in terms of their ability to cope with success, defeat and disappointments, their social skills and ability to interact with their friends, and their understanding of leadership and playing one's part. There is a range of benefits to participation in team sports. The challenge we all face — this is evident in some of our more traditional sports — is that in today's world the drop-off in team participation rates after the age of 16 or 18 years is significant. There is a big challenge in keeping young people of that age involved in team sports.

The other aspect of individual participation in adulthood is that it includes a lot of general physical activities such as aerobics. I am not saying these are not sports, but I am not saying they are either. The report refers to physical activity that keeps people mentally and physically well just by being involved. We cannot start building individual facilities all over the place. There is a need in some sports to provide basic training, for skills development or coaching. As a nation there are areas in which we could do a lot better. Irish people were very successful in many field sports around the turn of the last century when we participated in the Olympic Games, although not under our own flag. If one looks at the names of those who delivered medals for the United Kingdom and the United States at the time, they are nearly all Irish. This tells me there is nothing inherently wrong with the physical, mental or cultural make-up of Irish people that means we cannot be as good as any other country in field sports. In this area we do need to provide facilities. Overall, I am a strong believer in team sport.

The Minister referred to the point I was intending to raise, the dropping out of over 16s from team sports. This is particularly significant in more socially deprived areas where the alternatives are often unattractive and undesirable such as anti-social behaviour. I wonder what specific initiatives can be taken to ensure young people who might be vulnerable are encouraged to remain in or return to sport after the age of 16 years, when they are particularly prone to dropping out. I presume it has something to do with the fact that, as they have left school, school sports facilities are no longer available to them and so on.

There are other attractions also.

That is true; I agree with the Minister. Nobody could do anything about those attractions, nor would they want to change them. However, there may be a significant factor that needs to be addressed; for example, in socially deprived areas we must ensure the facilities are in place to keep young people involved in sport.

Two areas are starkly identified in the most recent report which I launched some months ago — Deputy Mitchell was present — which was commissioned by the Irish Sports Council. These are the participation of young girls in sport and the participation and retention of young children in socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Coincidentally, I happened to have a meeting this week with a local sports partnership and was surprised at the people, organisations and community groups involved. This is made possible through funding from the Irish Sports Council. Significant amounts are being invested directly. Much of their remit is to work in disadvantaged areas. While there are many soccer, GAA and rugby clubs etc. in these areas, they tend not to get all the children involved. The participation of the sports partnerships in encouraging them to work in some cases directly with those clubs is allowing young children who are disadvantaged in some way to feel they can easily join a club and gain all the benefits of membership. Considerable work is being done in that regard. As a follow-up to the report commissioned by the Irish Sports Council, it is considering the new programmes we need to develop. All the sporting bodies would have recognised this issue in recent years and many programmes have been redirected. However, much work remains to be done in that area.

Team sport needs to maintain the priority it had. While after the age of 40 very few people are playing a team sport, the report indicates people are more likely to turn to another sport if they have already been playing a sport or a team sport. However, my concern is about the gender gap. That same research indicated that girls were already disadvantaged in terms of participation in sport before they even go to primary school. By the age of 20 only half as many girls as boys were involved in sport. That gap never closes and even grows over age. It cannot simply be a case of business as usual regarding how we direct funding. In particular there needs to be a concentration on finding sports that are attractive to girls. Clearly some of the team sports do not appeal to girls, for instance, rugby, although I believe tag rugby is the big thing now for girls. There needs to be a reconsideration of where funding is going if we are to get equity in participation.

I agree with the Deputy's reading of the report. It is very important to get girls interested in sport at primary level. Obviously it is much harder to engage them at an older age, as it would be with anybody who does not have that ethos and is not used to such participation. Emphasis needs to be placed on that matter. I am working with the Department of Education and Science on the schools system in its broadest sense, particularly with primary schools, to instil that opportunity into girls at that age so that they can take it through into second level education. Many sports like basketball, volleyball and hockey are becoming more popular. It is easier for girls to participate in these sports and we need to ensure we have the resources in place to do that. It is not beyond us to go down this road in coming years and to have a successful outcome by targeting the resources in the correct way and get co-ordination between all the bodies with responsibility.

Question No. 128 answered with Question No. 126.

Appointments to State Boards.

Richard Bruton

Question:

129 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the vacant positions on the Arts Council will be filled; the criteria that will be used in their selection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33870/08]

I am considering the vacancies on the board of the Arts Council and hope to make an announcement in the immediate future. The remaining members of the board, whose terms expire in 2011, are sufficient to provide a quorum for the council and under the Arts Act 2003 the deputy chair can take the place of the chair until a new chair is appointed.

In appointing new members to the board cognisance needs to be had of the following provisions under the Arts Act 2003. Members of the Arts Council must have a special interest in or knowledge of the arts. The board must have a minimum of six men and six women; therefore the new appointments must be made up of a minimum of one man and five women and the chair can be either male or female. Persons aged 70 or over cannot be appointed to State boards. A range of all disciplines as per the Arts Act needs to be represented. The Act states that "arts" means any creative or interpretative expression, whether traditional or contemporary, in whatever form, and includes, in particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, and includes any medium when used for those purposes.

I understand from speaking to former members of the Arts Council that the remaining members are not quorate. Given that the budget will be announced shortly, they are most anxious that they will be in a position to implement their spending plans with all speed immediately after the budget. At the moment they feel hamstrung owing to the lack of members.

I wish to comment about the independence of members of boards, particularly the chairperson of a board. I do not in any way criticise the outgoing chairperson of the Arts Council, who was superb and very committed. Nevertheless she was placed in an invidious position, being clearly a supporter of a particular party. When people have two masters it is very difficult for them to perform their job with absolute independence. I can think of other cases. For instance, the chairperson of the Disability Authority is also the CEO of Rehab. It is client and master together and it is a very difficult position in which to place people.

I am anxious that there would be transparency in the appointment of people to the Arts Council, in particular where independence is required. They are supposed to be the challengers of society who question what we do and how we go forward. The Minister should ensure that whoever is appointed will be able to serve the arts community and the taxpayer rather than any political master.

I am glad the Deputy prefaced her remarks about the outgoing chairperson.

She was a superb chairperson.

My view and the general view without fear or favour is that she was an excellent and superb chairperson. Many people in this House as well as outside it often complain to me that the Arts Council is far too independent.

It is meant to be independent.

One can never win. I also know the other person to whom the Deputy referred. She is superb and is greatly committed to that area.

I have no doubt about that.

The Minister is going beyond the scope of the question.

I know that. However, I wanted to put it on the record for fear that if I did not respond it might be taken to acquiesce with the Deputy's view. She is superb in the roles she fulfils.

It is an unfair position in which to put someone.

They are not without their difficulties. My intent is to appoint someone to the chair of the Arts Council who has an interest in and some knowledge of the arts and has the business capacity to manage a budget in the order of €70 million or €80 million, which is very significant. That is not a small business, it is a significant amount of resources. I have not made a decision. I probably would have preferred to have done so, but events in the past week or two got in the way of doing so. I intend to make that announcement as quickly as possible.

I am surprised and shocked to hear that someone over 70 may not be a member of the board.

That has nothing to do with the Arts Council. That is the general legislative position relating to all State bodies.

I appreciate that, but it is food for thought and is something we should consider. It is ageist. In the context of arts and culture, there are so many excellent people over 70 in the arts world who would be excellent in that role. We should do it as a precedent to at least shake up the legislation in that area.

That is the position. I agree it appears somewhat ageist. I am unsure as to the genesis of this legislation and whether it was introduced in recent years or in years past. We are all living much longer and are hopefully much healthier. Perhaps the provision could be reconsidered in the future. It was not regarding the Arts Council that I made the point, it was regarding State boards in general, and that is the legislative position.

Arts Funding.

Bernard Allen

Question:

130 Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will provide the ongoing funding necessary to mainstream the touring experiment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33863/08]

Willie Penrose

Question:

169 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to provide a national touring programme in 2009; if there is secure funding for such a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33785/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 169 together.

Funding for touring is provided by the Arts Council. The Arts Council is statutorily independent under the Arts Act 2003 and I have no role to play in its specific funding decisions.

In 2007 and 2008 combined, approximately €2.5 million has been spent by the council to support touring. This is in addition to touring provision embedded in revenue grants to organisations. The Arts Council introduced a touring programme in late 2006 for which funding of €1.7 million was made available in 2007. The council expects an analysis report on the touring programme to be completed in 2008 at which time the council will consider its recommendations and the options for the future. In the meantime, the council has provided a further €757,000 in grants for touring in 2008.

In addition, in the context of its 80th anniversary, the Department has provided €250,000 for the Gate Theatre in 2008 to part fund its 40-venue tour of "Waiting for Godot". This tour is under way and each venue visited to date has been sold out. Clearly, any allocation for touring in 2009 will have to be made by the Arts Council in the context of the allocation available to it and based on the analysis of the programme in the last two years.

I agree with the Minister about the great success of the "Waiting for Godot" project which has been very well received around the country. However, while he says he is not directly responsible for the touring project funding, he has responsibility for the access programme and welcome hundreds of millions spent on theatres and arts facilities around the country. However, there was a purpose in building them — to fill them with art productions. The reality is that value for money is not being obtained from them and the money being spent on behalf of the taxpayer because the funding simply is not available for companies to tour. If performances of a proper standard cannot be staged for the regions, there is no point in building facilities there. We have spent the money and must now find that little extra to ensure all of the best productions — dance, opera etc. — travel around the country. There is no point in having all of them in Dublin, if we have built facilities and continue to build them around the country. They find it extremely difficult to operate to full capacity. Many are closed during the week and there is great difficulty in maintaining them because there is simply no income available. The reality is that while the Minister is not directly responsible, he does have responsibility to show value for money from what has been spent.

I agree about the facilities already in place all over the country through the access programme which has been very valuable. All of us will have seen many of these facilities. It is clear some areas are far better than others in maximising the use of a theatre. It comes down to the personalities involved — the drive, energy and vision shown in the different areas. I am strongly supportive of the touring programme and have conveyed that view. It is not just about "Waiting for Godot" which has been an enormous success. I have seen the production around the country and it has filled all of the theatres. Given the quality of the actors involved, people would come from all over the world to see it; they are just outstanding. They have made what I would consider to be a very difficult and inaccessible play as accessible as they can in terms of the way it is presented because of the sheer quality of their acting. This tells us that there is a hunger all around the country for quality theatre. Because of what has happened in recent times with touring programmes and their success, we need much more. That responds to the essential point made by the Deputy to the effect that while we have invested on the capital side, we now need to ensure we invest on the current side to support programmes that clearly reach out into all communities. It has been demonstrated that they can fill theatres all over the country and have been very successful for all the audiences involved, whether young or old.

Can I look for forward to seeing additional funding being made available next week?

Perhaps I can ask the same question: can we look forward to seeing additional funding? I was one of those lucky enough to obtain tickets for "Waiting for Godot" and it was superb. Earlier we spoke about the culture night concept being extended around the country. Clearly, there is a hunger for the arts, not just in Dublin, as the Minister has pointed out. It is important that the facilities are in place. Small theatre companies simply cannot afford it, unless they have a commitment to carry out their programme successfully.

The Minister for Finance will present the budget next week and we shall see exactly where we stand. It does not in any way invalidate my view which I have shared with the House in terms of the value of many programmes. I intend, no matter what resources are available, to try to support these programmes. I agree, absolutely, that the touring programme, in all its guises, is enormously successful and that it should be expanded and promoted. However, as I said, the Arts Council will make the decision. It certainly knows my general approach and views as regards its value.

Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

Top
Share