Vol. 948 No. 1
39. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the Arts Council will be publishing a new arts and disability policy in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20441/17]
I wish to ask the Minister if the Arts Council will be publishing a new arts and disability policy in 2017 and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts, including arts and disability, throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The council is independent in both its funding and executive decisions.
In 2013 the Arts Council published its arts and disability policy 2012 to 2016 to address issues of equity, access and participation for artists and audiences with disabilities. The policy is available on the council's website. It was developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and the council continues to work in partnership with the sector in its implementation. The policy is built on a number of key values, including equality, the social model of disability, the complexity and diversity of people and practices, an holistic approach and inclusion. Arts Council policy recognises the complexity and diversity of people and practices that make up the arts sector in Ireland. It acknowledges and values the artistic contribution of artists and other art professionals with disabilities and is committed to the provision of support not only for artists and other arts professionals but also for participants, artistic collaborators and audiences with disabilities. The council also makes every effort to provide reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities who wish to submit an application but have difficulties in accessing online services.
I understand the Arts Council’s arts and disability policy is due to be reviewed and updated in the context of the council's new ten year strategy, Making Great Art Work, which is expected to be published in the coming months. I will ask the council to reply directly to the Deputy on its plans for a policy document.
I thank the Minister for her reply. As she said, the last arts and disability strategy from the Arts Council ran until 2016. The strategy outlined the council's approach to providing access to the arts for people with disabilities. It provided a much needed opportunity for people with disabilities to make their input to the Minister's Department and outline the difficulties they were experiencing in accessing the arts and cultural sector in Ireland. Since the plan expired, we have not seen any effort being made to replace it, despite the fact that people with disabilities continue to experience huge challenges in accessing the arts and culture sector. I speak of both artists and audiences with disabilities; there are two strands to the issue. In Ireland there is a very low level of participation by children with special educational needs in structured cultural activities. This does not only affect children and young people, as many adults with disabilities report frustration and difficulties in accessing the arts.
Policy on providing access to the arts for people with disabilities is a matter for the Arts Council. As the Deputy is aware, the Arts Council is entirely independent of my Department in its funding and executive decisions. That said, I will ask the council to revert to the Deputy directly on the policy it is devising which I am sure it will be more than happy to do.
In terms of my Department, the Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the successful applicants for the €9 million arts and cultural capital scheme, the largest investment in regional arts facilities in over a decade. Approximately 85% of the funding went to projects outside Dublin. The Deputy will be aware that the town hall in Cavan received €750,000, while the Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen and the old post office in Clones also received funding. It is important to point out that all of these major capital projects must comply with the strict building regulations in place in terms of disability access. That is only right because we want these state-of-the-art facilities and amenities to be inclusive and available for everyone to use and enjoy.
As the Minister knows, if we do not provide an arts and disability policy, we will be failing to extend access to people with disabilities. Not only that, we will also be failing to meet our international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Creative Ireland has recently produced a beautiful publication. We have also seen publication of the policy framework, Culture 2025. However, the Creative Ireland publication does not contain anything specific for people with disabilities. I ask the Minister to comment on this.
The Arts Council has supported the development of arts and disability practice in Ireland for many years. It developed a formal arts and disability policy in 2012 following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. The council is independent of my Department. It has a policy which will be reviewed in the context of its new ten year strategy, Making Great Art Work. I will be happy to arrange for representatives of the council to speak to the Deputy to update her on its policy on disability. The policy that was in place was built on a number of key values, including equality and the social model of disability. It recognised that access must be considered at the earliest-----
I asked about the Creative Ireland publication, which makes no mention of people with disabilities. I did not ask about the Arts Council in my supplementary question.
Yes, but the Arts Council has responsibility for the policy on people with disabilities.
I asked the Minister to comment on the fact that there was no mention of people with disabilities in the Creative Ireland publication.
40. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad a dhéanfaidh an Rialtas chun stop a chur le meath na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [20620/17]
Is í an Ghaeilge ceann de na rudaí cultúrtha is tábhachtaí inár bhféiniúlacht. Is modh cumarsáide laethúil í an Ghaeilge le haghaidh ma mílte daoine sa Ghaeltacht. Is infreastruchtúr smaointe í freisin. Tá na mílte daoine ag déanamh a seacht n-iarracht timpeall na Gaeltachta chun an Ghaeilge a choimeád beo. Is í an Ghaeltacht tobar na Gaeilge. Níl aon Ghaeilge chomh sonrach ann taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá sé léirithe sna figúirí a tháinig amach as an daonáireamh an tseachtain seo caite go bhfuil teip uafásach tagtha ar pholasaí an Rialtais mar gheall ar an nGaeilge. Iarraim ar an Aire Stáit a rá linn cad atá i gceist ag an Rialtas chun na figiúirí sin a iompú timpeall?
Le foilsiú thorthaí daonáireamh 2016 mar a bhaineann siad leis an nGaeilge, léirítear go leanann na dúshláin atá roimh an nGaeilge mar theanga. I bhfianaise na dtorthaí seo, is gá ár gcuid iarrachtaí a threisiú tuilleadh mar fhorais Stáit, mar eagraíochtaí Gaeilge agus mar phobal i gcoitinne chun na dúshláin sin a cheansú. Is ea is mó seans go mbeidh toradh bisiúil ar ár gcuid iarrachtaí ar fad má ghlacann gach páirtí leasmhar go fonnmhar leis an deis chun a gcion a dhéanamh ar son na Gaeilge mar chuid d'fheidhmiú na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, a bhfuil an próiseas pleanála teanga agus an polasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta mar chuid lárnach de.
Tá an próiseas pleanála teanga mar chuid lárnach d’fheidhmiú na straitéise 20 bliain agus is ar ullmhúchán pleananna atá an próiseas pleanála teanga dírithe ó cuireadh tús leis trí bliana ó shin. Agus tús á chur le feidhmiú pleananna teanga i suas le 13 limistéar Gaeltachta faoi leith i mbliana, tógfar céim mhór chun tosaigh le feidhmiú an phróisis agus, dá réir, le feidhmiú na straitéise. Fágfaidh sé seo go mbeidh pobal na Gaeltachta ag glacadh páirte níos mó ná riamh chun na dúshláin atá roimh an nGaeilge ar bhonn áitiúil a cheansú. Ós rud é go mbeidh feidhmiú pleananna teanga ar bun feasta, bheifí ag súil leis go mbeidh tionchar dearfach aige seo ar fad ar staid reatha na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht.
Is fiú a lua chomh maith go bhfuil ardú ar an gcistíocht atá ar fáil do na gnáthchláir reatha ar thaobh na Gaeltachta, a bhfuil dlúthbhaint acu chomh maith le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise 20 bliain agus le cás na Gaeilge dá réir. Leis an allúntas méadaithe seo, tá mé cinnte go mbeifear in ann tacú tuilleadh le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise agus an phróisis pleanála teanga mar a bhaineann sé leis an nGaeltacht. Is céim suntasach é go bhfuil an polasaí don oideachas Gaeltachta á chur i bhfeidhm ar an talamh anois. Is é seo an chéad phlean a d'eisigh an Stát ó bunaíodh é a thugann aghaidh go sonrach ar na dúshláin atá roimh an chóras oideachais sa Ghaeltacht. Beidh mo Roinn ag obair as lámh a chéile leis an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna chun ár gcion a dhéanamh sa chaoi is go mbeidh rath leis an bpolasaí seo.
Tá an Rialtas seo i bhfeidhm le haghaidh sé bliana anois. Is mór an trua é. Cé go dtagann an tAire Stáit ón nGaeltacht, tá an titim tubaisteach seo ag tarlú faoina réim. Chonaiceamar sa daonáireamh go bhfuil titim de 11% tagtha ar an méid Gaeilge atá á labhairt sa Ghaeltacht go laethúil taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais. Dar leis na saineolaithe, nuair a thiteann an méid daoine a labhraíonn an Ghaeilge i gceantar áirithe faoi 67%, titeann an tóin as an teanga go hiomlán sa cheantar sin agus bíonn sé deacair an treocht a iompú. Is léir ó na figiúirí nach bhfuil an méid sin Ghaeilge á labhairt ach i 21 as 155 ceantar Gaeltachta. De réir tuairisc a d'fhoilsíodh in 2015, tá meath na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ag éirí níos tapúla ag an bhomaite. Is léir go bhfuil an straitéis 20 bliain ina phraiseach iomlán, i ndáiríre. Tá mé ag impí ar an Aire Stáit labhairt leis an Aire sinsearach, an Teachta Humphreys, le cur in iúl di cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an cheist seo. Iarraim ar an Aire Stáit Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla nua a threisiú agus i bhfad níos mó airgid a chur ar fáil.
Aontaím leis an Teachta go bhfuil na rudaí seo dúshlánach ó thaobh na teanga agus ó thaobh an daonra. Ag an am céanna, tá a fhios ag an Teachta go raibh eacnamaíocht na tíre i ndrochstaid le blianta beaga anuas. D'imigh 127,000 duine ar imirce thar lear idir 2009 agus 2014. Sílim go raibh Gaeilge líofa ag cuid de na daoine sin agus caithfidh gur tháinig cuid acu as na ceantair Ghaeltachta. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil sé seo mar cheann de na príomhchúiseanna go bhfuil laghdú tagtha ar líon na gcainteoirí i mbliana. Má bhreathnaíonn an Teachta ar na figiúirí, beidh sé soiléir dó gur tháinig laghdú ar an daonra idir 25 agus 35 bliana d'aois ós rud é go ndeachaigh an oiread sin dóibh thar lear. Tuigeann an tAire sinsearach an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an straitéis 20 bliain. Ní aontaím leis an Teachta Tóibín go bhfuil an straitéis "ina phraiseach". Tá an-dul chun cinn déanta againn. Tá sé sin curtha ar an taifead agam sa Seanad. Rinne coiste Oireachtais na Gaeilge plé ar an ábhar seo cúpla nóimead ó shin. Cuirfidh mé an méid atá á rá agam anseo ar thaifead an choiste sin freisin. Tá a lán rudaí bainte amach. Tá ardú tagtha ar an méid infheistíochta atá ar fáil i mbliana d'Údarás na Gaeltachta, ó thaobh an mbuiséid reatha agus caipitil, chun poist a chruthú agus cabhair a thabhairt do na comharchumainn atá ag freastal ar an nGaeltacht agus ar na hoileáin. Tá an Rialtas seo ag déanamh chuile rud is féidir chun líon na gcainteoirí Gaeilge a ardú.
Go stairiúil - go dtí gur tháinig Fine Gael i bhfeidhm in 2011 - bhí dul chun cinn tagtha ar na figiúrí a bhain le daoine le Gaeilge sa tír seo. Ba é seo an chéad daonáireamh ó bunaíodh an Stát inar tháinig titim ar an méid daoine le Gaeilge sa tír seo. Nílimid ag caint ar airgead amháin. Tá an ceart ag an Aire Stáit nuair a deireann sé gur tháinig titim uafásach ar an méid airgid a bhí le fáil ag an Rialtas. Bhain an Rialtas i bhfad níos mó airgid amach as an earnáil seo ná aon earnáil eile sa tír. Is easpa toil pholaitiúil atá i gceist. Tá sé náireach a rá go bhfuil neamhaird iomlán déanta ag eagraíochtaí atá faoi chúram na Roinne Ealaíon Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, ar nós Amharclann na Mainistreach, Ardmhúsaem na hÉireann, Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann, an Chomhairle Oidhreachta agus an Ceoláras Náisiúnta, ar iarratais scéimeanna teanga a ullmhú i rith na bliana atá imithe thart. Tá níos mó ná deich mbliana imithe ón uair a tháinig an córas sin isteach. Tá na heagraíochtaí faoi chúram na Roinne ag déanamh neamhaird iomlán ar an dualgas seo. Níor sheas aon ombudsman sa tír seo siar riamh ach amháin san earnáil seo, nuair a sheas an t-iarChoimisinéir Teanga siar. Tá sé dochreidte nach bhfuil an tAire sinsearach ag éisteacht leis an díospóireacht seo. Ní thuigeann sí an méid atá le rá againn, ach fós níl sí ag úsáid na cluasáin.
Tá 17 scéim aontaithe don chéad uair le 16 mí anuas-----
As cé mhéad?
-----rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil 17 comhlacht nach raibh aon scéim acu riamh cheana ceangailte anois le réimse leathan de ghealltanais ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Tá dul chun cinn déanta. Tá an ceart ag an Teachta nach bhfuil cuid de na scéimeanna foilsithe go fóill. Tá siad ag teacht isteach. Is é an príomhrud ó thaobh na bpleananna teanga de ná nach bhfuil siad ag oibriú. Tá sé sin ráite agam agus ag an Choimisinéir Teanga. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuilimid ag dul síos treo eile maidir leis an Acht teanga. Tá réamhobair déanta ar chinnteidil an Bhille sin. Beidh an t-ábhar seo á phlé againn ag an gcoiste idir-rannach ar 15 Bealtaine seo chugainn. Ina dhiaidh sin, pléfear an reachtaíocht os comhair an Rialtais agus comhchoiste na Gaeilge. Tá dul chun cinn á dhéanamh, ach táimid ag breathnú ar treoir eile ó thaobh na bpleananna teanga. Tá sé i gceist againn caighdeán a thabhairt isteach ionas go mbeidh sé de dhualgas ar chuile eagraíocht sa Stát glacadh leis an gcaighdeán sin. Bhí cruinniú agam leis an Aire i Rialtas na Breataine Bige le déanaí agus bhí cruinniú eile agam le feidhmeannaigh i mo Roinn. Táimid ag dul síos treoir eile ó thaobh rialacháin do sheirbhísí trí mhéan na Gaeilge.
41. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps she will take to increase the provision of arts education to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20442/17]
What steps are being taken by the Minister to increase the provision of arts education in schools?
The Creative Ireland programme, which was launched by the Taoiseach and me in December, places a special focus on enabling the creative potential of every child. It will build on the arts in education charter through the development of an integrated plan, Creative Children, to enable every child in Ireland to access tuition in music, drama, art and coding by 2022. Officials in my Department are continuing to work with their counterparts in relevant Departments and other stakeholders to develop this plan with a launch timeframe of early autumn 2017. The Creative Children plan will build on the work to date in implementing the arts in education charter. My Department is continuing to work closely with the Department of Education and Skills and the Arts Council to deliver the key objectives of the charter in the wider context of the Creative Ireland programme. The objectives of the charter have been achieved largely through existing structures such as education centres. Good progress has been made with the launch of Ireland's first arts in education portal, the holding of national arts and education days and the development of teacher-artist partnerships through education and training centres. I look forward to attending national arts day events next Saturday, 6 May 2017, at St. Patrick's College in Drumcondra. Arising from the significant increase in support of €5 million which I secured for the Arts Council as part of budget 2017, I am pleased that the Arts Council decided to increase funding in this area from €3.1 million in 2016 to €3.7 million this year. These initiatives demonstrate the Government's overall commitment to deliver for children as we work in finalising the Creative Children plan.
On the issue of disability, Creative Ireland aims to increase participation among all members of society which includes people with disabilities. Creative Ireland is the overriding policy document from which all these strategies flow.
The 2016 programme for Government has a commitment to implement the arts in education charter. It is important to recognise the hard work of Professor John Coolahan, Dr. Katie Sweeney and other members of the charter implementation group. Both the Minister and I know personally and in detail the work that has gone into this.
The arts in education portal has been a huge success and in 2015, the Department gave €120,000 towards it. To March 2016, it had more than 18,000 visitors and hits. However, as there are 90,000 teachers across the island, it means in total 20% of visits were from teachers.
On the actual implementation of strand one, the creative potential in every child, the Minister aims to fast-track, embrace and resource the arts in education charter as a core element of the Creative Ireland agenda. This is wonderful. How is this going to be implemented, however? What is the Minister going to do in practical terms?
The integrated implementation plan for arts in education, which is a priority for Creative Ireland, seeks to enable the creative potential of every child. The creative children plan will see the key objectives of the charter for arts in education embraced, fast-tracked and resourced as a core element of the Creative Ireland agenda. Principles and guidelines are stated in the charter, which include enabling children to explore alternative ways of communication, encouraging ideas that are personal and inventive, and making a vital contribution to the development of a range of intelligences. These build on existing initiatives such as the worldwide coding for children movement, CoderDojo, music generation, which is both a cultural movement and an instrument for creative learning, and the Ark, a dedicated cultural centre for children in Temple Bar. The Department of Education and Skills, together with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and my Department, will be central to the success of this pillar. It is anticipated that the plan for pillar 1 of the Creative Ireland programme, enabling the creative potential of every child, will be launched in early autumn 2017.
The Minister just read what is in the Creative Ireland programme. While that is wonderful, it is aspirational. I asked what tangible actions Minister will undertake to implement this plan. Will it be the local arts in education partnerships? Will the Department of Education and Skills work with her Department? How will it be brought into the schools? Will the education and training boards be brought together with the local arts officers?
Perhaps the Deputy should have listened to what I just said. I will work with the Department of Education and Skills, the education centres and the Arts Council to bring forward this initiative. It is an important initiative which will enable the creative potential of every child. It will allow children to have access to tuition in music, dance, coding or whatever form in which they wish to participate. I agree we must encourage and promote the arts through our schools.
Yes, but how?
There can only be one speaker at a time. The Deputy can ask another question if she so wishes.
How will this be done?
We have had several meetings with different stakeholders. This plan has been worked on and will be launched in autumn 2017.
Will it be through the local arts in education partnerships? Will they implement the arts in education charter?
As I said, this will be done through the education sector and education centres. There have been meetings and it has been discussed with the Department of Education and Skills. It will be rolled out in conjunction with the education centres.
42. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on the role of Aosdána in recognising and supporting Irish artists; if she plans to limit and diminish the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20438/17]
What is the Department doing about the row that seems to have broken out with the Arts Council in respect of the proposal on the cnuas, the stipend, paid to several members of Aosdána? Apparently, a time and motion study is to be conducted by the Department on the productivity of artists. This is like something out of An Béal Bocht by Flann O’Brien or Cré na Cille by Máirtín Ó Cadhain. What the heck is going on in the Department Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs? What is the Minister doing about it?
Aosdána is a unique initiative established by the Arts Council in 1981 to honour creative artists who have made a significant contribution to the arts. There are some 250 members of Aosdána, including seven new members who came into membership last week. The scheme is the responsibility of the Arts Council and not my Department. It should be noted that under section 24(2) of the Arts Act 2003, the council is independent of the Minister in its funding decisions.
Members of Aosdána can qualify for a means-tested payment, known as the cnuas, if they are resident in Ireland and are full-time practising artists. Following recent internal audits of Aosdána and a value for money policy review of the Arts Council, undertaken under the guidance of an expert steering committee chaired by Dr. John O’Hagan, professor of economics at Trinity College Dublin, the council is reviewing all aspects of the administration and procedures of Aosdána to ensure the most appropriate governance and oversight arrangements are in place.
In regard to any issues which arise from the review of the Aosdána, these are a matter for the Arts Council and Aosdána. On the proposed changes to the cnuas payment, I understand a process of engagement is planned. I encourage both sides to engage in this thoroughly. I noted in a recent statement Aosdána referenced the relationship of trust which it has shared with the Arts Council for three decades. I hope, therefore, any issues can be resolved now through a collaborative approach.
The Minister’s answer was terribly unsatisfactory. Aosdána was the creation of Anthony Cronin, who died recently. He was artistic adviser for several years to the late former Taoiseach, Charles J. Haughey. It was seen as one of the best actions ever taken in recognising and supporting our artists. For example, what if we have another James Joyce who happens not to be making much money? As we know, that bedevilled Joyce all through his life. However, the Government is happy to embrace James Joyce when it comes to tourism and cultural activities as one of the great writers from this country. Unfortunately, he left this country because he had difficulties getting published and making a living here for his family.
As a Minister with arts in her title, is she not interested in these artists? As she said, Aosdána artists' cnuas is means-tested. Doe she believe some artists are lying about their means? Does she suspect fraud? There are times when the Minister cannot stand back. The crisis is over. The Government is constantly informing us that, thankfully, we have a lot more money. What is this argument about?
I am committed to the arts and to artists.
For the Deputy to use the words she has is wrong. I have never even mentioned those words and neither would I dream of it. We will leave the words "lying" and "fraud" with the Deputy-----
No, to start with-----
-----as I certainly would not use them. One of the founding principles of Aosdána was to recognise the huge contribution made by artists and the creative arts to this country. I recognise the incredibly important role that artists play. It is very important we recognise and value this role, and to this end I am developing a pilot initiative with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, to make it easier for artists to access social welfare supports. However, I remind the Deputy this was set up to be independent of the Minister in funding decisions under section 24(2) of the Arts Act 2003. I cannot interfere and if I was to interfere, the Deputy would be the one to tell me I should not be interfering.
I remind the Minister and I am sure she will remember that as Tánaiste I constantly fought as part of the previous Government with the two Ministers for Finance, including the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to get more funding into the arts. The Minister might acknowledge that when I was Tánaiste I was probably one of her strongest backers around the Cabinet table. I also met many artists. We should remember that many very fine artists in Ireland do not even earn the minimum wage, never mind the living wage. I acknowledge the Minister is saying she does not interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the Arts Council but she has just spent time talking to colleagues about arts policy, which must include artists and how they can survive and live.
The initiative I have been involved with in social welfare leads to acknowledgement of people working in the arts, with a certain protocol in place. I was involved with setting that up. I hope it is nothing to do with Aosdána and the cnuas, which is a very specific payment. It is very successful in Ireland and I wish the Minister would acknowledge it, although it was the initiative of a former Taoiseach from another party, Charles J. Haughey and, in particular, Mr. Anthony Cronin. He was one of our finest arts figures and died recently. This is wrong so will the Minister rethink it rapidly please?
The Arts Council has received increased funding year-on-year since I was appointed Minister in 2014. I acknowledge the Deputy has been very supportive of the arts-----
I thank the Minister.
-----as have all my colleagues at Cabinet.
Really?
In fairness, we got considerable funding-----
The Minister must have attended some different Cabinet meetings to me.
-----for the 2016 commemorations, which were very important. Last year I was delighted to increase funding by 8% for the 2017 budget, which was an increase from €60 million to €65 million. This was only possible due to the improved economy. As the economy improves, I want to see more money invested in the arts and I will continue to make the case for that. To be clear, I absolutely recognise the major work done by and the importance of Aosdána. It is a matter for the Arts Council. My understanding is there is a collaborative process where it is open to discussions; the Arts Council will work with Aosdána and I hope the matter can be resolved satisfactorily.
43. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has considered the report by a group (details supplied) issued in March 2017; her plans to implement the recommendations in the report; the progress made to date in doing so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20440/17]
As the Minister knows, the Moore Street report was published in March and a timeline was set out with the hope that a decision would be recommended in six weeks, as the matter has dragged on for years. Has the Minister brought this to the Cabinet and have we a decision? Will she set up the advisory group that has been recommended in the report so we can move to the next phase? I am afraid we will lose the good momentum built up in the past six months towards progressing the Moore Street project to a suitable resolution.
I agree with the Deputy that good momentum has been built up and I put on record my sincere appreciation to the members of the group referred to by the Deputy for the report they recently presented to me. The group, which was independently chaired by a former departmental Secretary General, included local and Oireachtas political representatives, 1916 relatives, street traders and other stakeholders. It was set up in a bid to bring together the full range of views on the matter and it held its inaugural meeting in September 2016. In the meantime, it has reviewed numerous presentations and submissions from a range of interests, looked at a variety of official and other reports, interviewed relevant public officials and other experts and examined a large body of work from within its own membership, as the Deputy knows. This extensive programme of work has culminated in the series of recommendations contained in the report that was presented to me in the last few weeks and that is now being examined in my Department.
I welcome the fact the report is seeking a way forward based on consensus. Its recommendations can help breathe new life into the area while retaining its sense of history and tradition. In addition to its particular association with the 1916 Rising, there are other relevant aspects of the street and surrounding area that also need to be taken into account, including the range of State, public and private property holdings and ownership and, of course, the presence of the street traders themselves, who do so much to give the area its unique ambience and place in the life of our capital city. The report has looked carefully at all these elements and I am delighted that it signals the potential for a mutually successful outcome to be agreed between the relevant parties, balancing the perspectives of all the key stakeholders. I am fully supportive of this collaborative approach and I want to see the work already done being continued so we can progress to the next stage and see tangible results on the ground. Critical to this will be the establishment of the new advisory group that the report itself identifies as the most effective way to move forward with its recommendations. I will be proceeding with the setting up of this group as quickly as possible to build on the positive and constructive foundations set out in this report.
As happens so often, the Minister gave me much information that I already have, as I was part of all those discussions and on the forum referred to. As she pointed out, we had a very experienced chairman and in his work he was very diligent in advising us against things that could not be done. However, the report very clearly states that the establishment of the advisory oversight group should happen within six weeks. As the Minister knows, this was because a consensus was built through a huge amount of work. People believed they had put together a map to bring us forward. There are two questions that still have not been answered. When will the advisory group be set up or will it be set up? Has the Government considered this report and made any decision on the recommendations of the report? All of them must be implemented but some need very urgent attention, including, for example, those relating to street traders.
The appointment of a chairman for the new advisory group is the next step in the process and I hope to see that person appointed, with the group beginning its work, as soon as possible. I am very much aware the chairman of the previous consultative group worked in a particularly effective way with all the parties and his efforts were key to the achievement of the agreed outcome to the group's deliberations as set out in the report. The next stage is equally crucial and the new chairman will have just as vital a role to play. I am looking at possible candidates and hope to make the appointment as soon as possible. The report envisaged this process taking six weeks and we are still well within that timeframe. The new advisory group will be drawn from among the existing membership of the outgoing Moore Street consultative group. I understand it had 27 members and it is envisaged that the new body, while being equally representative across the same spectrum of interests, will be somewhat smaller.
I will discuss and agree the membership of the group with the new chairperson when he or she is appointed.
"As soon as possible" is the most meaningless phrase. Is it the Minister's intention to do it all within six weeks? We are not far off the six weeks because it was launched some time ago. I asked the Minister two specific questions. Will she adhere to the timescale here? Has this report been brought to the Government and has the Government decided to support this report as the basis for a way forward for Moore Street? Everybody wishes to know whether the Government has bought into the work of the committee the Minister established. I give the Minister full credit for setting up the committee. It acted very responsibly and came forward with constructive consensual agreement. Will the chairperson and the new advisory group be appointed within the six week timeframe, give or take a week? Second, has the Government considered the report and has it agreed its response to it, or when will we get that if it has not considered it? These are two specific questions and not only I but also the people who are concerned about this issue, on every side, want specific answers to them.
I wish to record my thanks to Deputy Ó Cuív, who was instrumental in setting up this consultative group. It has been very successful and the advisory group is the next phase to this. I intend to appoint the group and a chairperson within the next week. I will discuss that further with the Deputy. I consider this to be the next phase. The Government gave me approval to set up the consultative forum in the first place, so this is a continuation of that forum. The group will consider the next phase and the recommendations in the report.
