Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Feb 1998

Vol. 154 No. 6

Funding of An Chomhairle Ealaíon: Motion.

Labhraás Ó Murchú

I move:

That Seanad Éireann congratulates the Government on the allocation of £26 million to An Chomhairle Ealaíon in 1998, thereby enabling the Council to complete the implementation of the Arts Plan one year ahead of that envisaged by the previous Government.

Cuireann sé an-áthas orm an rún seo a mholadh. Faoi mar atá luaite sa rún, tá sé soiléir go bhfuil ciste an-fhlaithiúil curtha ar fáil don Chomhairle Ealaíon, sin £26 milliún ar fad. Tá sé seo bunaithe ar phlean atá leagtha amach ag an gComhairle Ealaíon. An rud is tábhachtaí ó thaobh an Rialtais seo ná go bhfuilimid bliain chun tosaigh maidir leis an deontas. Níl aon amhras faoi ná go bhfuil anobair ar siúl ag an gComhairle Ealaíon. Chomh maith leis sin is maith an rud é go bhfuil siad ag leathnú amach ní hamháin ins na háiteanna móra ach go mór i measc an phobail go háitiúil.

It gives me great pleasure to move this motion. There is no doubt that the Arts Council is an integral part of life in Ireland. It has a proud history and has played a major role in the promotion of the arts. People would agree that a fund of £26 million is exceptionally generous. This is based on a specific plan drawn up by the Arts Council to which submissions were made by interested parties.

We are all aware of the important role of the arts in the world today. We have always been told, particularly in times of affluence, that attention must be paid to leisure time. Ireland has a proud history and tradition in terms of creativity. Many people would say that we have made a major impact not only here but throughout the world. Not a day passes that the name of Ireland does not appear in lights in different parts of the world.

We all wish the Arts Council well. We know that the diversity of the arts requires a particular type of approach and policy. We are all aware of the major national institutions which play a vital role in our lives. No one would suggest that we should diminish their role as they enhance our lives. It is important that the arts are accessible to all people, irrespective of their wealth or otherwise. That has been one of the main thrusts of the policies adopted by the Arts Council and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and her Department.

We should not underestimate the input to the arts at local and national level. We must always bear in mind that people, particularly those in amateur dramatics and music, are the bedrock on which subsequent distinctions are developed. I am not saying they are ignored but it is important to remember that, over the years, people gave their time voluntarily to help others to identify and develop their talents. While the arts are perceived as elitist, they are also relevant to the people. I appeal to the Arts Council to consider how it could help amateur as well as professional movements.

I have a long association — some say a vested interest — with Irish traditional music. Some 20 or 25 years ago traditional music was associated more with the past and it did not qualify as an art form. However, today it has been given a priority rating. I recall some years ago the Arts Council commissioned a report on the living arts in Ireland which was subsequently published under the strange title, "Audiences, Amateurs and Acquisitions". That report showed that traditional music was the premier pursuit of the people surveyed in all age groups and locations in the country. I was disappointed that report was shelved at the time. It would be worth studying why old native music can compete so well in the modern art world.

I pay tribute to those involved in the music movement through the years. People might have referred to them as fiddlers, box players and so on and in their time, we may have associated them only with house functions yet today they fill Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall and all the major halls of the world. We should also recognise Irish dancing. Many people might have regarded it as a figure of fun to see little boys and girls learning the steps and dancing yet "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance" have broken all records. Today Michael Flatley claimed that "Lord of the Dance" will go into the Guinness Book of Records surpassing any other show in terms of attendance. Already two million people have seen "Lord of the Dance" and 2.5 million videos have been sold. The same would probably apply to "Riverdance". We all laud that and are delighted it is the case. The intrinsic value of the native arts has been recognised by those outside Ireland.

With a parish pump attitude, I refer to my town and Brú Ború, a centre at the foot of the Rock of Cashel. When it performed on Australian television it had 10 million viewers. The station received 180,000 calls as a result of the performance which it repeated five days later to 10 million more viewers. We are talking about exceptionally large numbers supporting the native arts.

I hope the Arts Council will find ways and means of redirecting itself. I appreciate from where the Arts Council came and why it perhaps catered for a particular art form. In some ways, without excusing it, I understand why the native arts at that time did not feature to the extent to which they should have done. Through the work of people on the ground and the popularity and momentum which was created, they are now centre stage and that must be recognised by the Arts Council. While it is only a small area of the arts, I would not let the opportunity pass without mentioning it.

The £26 million made available is obviously important. It is not possible to progress, particularly in a competitive world, without funds at one's disposal. We must be careful in that sometimes finance and creativity are not necessarily compatible. Some of the best works, including writing, film, theatre and so on, were produced when people were deprived. When one is challenged, one gets the best from oneself. I would not like art to become subservient to the box office or to the grant culture. The Arts Council would probably say that as well but it is important for artists to retain a degree of independence because it cultivates the creativity about which I speak. It would be worth the Arts Council's while to keep that in mind.

The people will welcome the amount of grant aid made available. Looking back at any parish, there was always support for drama, music, dance or any form of art and the public wanted to see it prosper. If the money is well used, I have no doubt but that the public will respond. I compliment the Minister on her achievements since coming into office. We are all aware she has looked on the arts in a representative way. She travelled to many functions and encouraged many people in their work. All people like to be encouraged in that way. I am pleased to support the motion.

Mr. Mooney

I welcome the Minister and echo the comments of my colleague, Senator Ó Murchú, on her activities in her Department since assuming power. The decision by the Minister to provide a budget of £26 million in the current year for the Arts Council is a widely welcome injection. It is an increase of £5.2 million — a significant 25 per cent over the level of funding for 1997. I suggest it gives the lie to an unfounded perception which seemed to be abroad that arts policy belonged to one party and Minister. Lest I be attacked for making a political point, we should acknowledge the excellent work done by the Minister's predessor. It is inevitable that as he was the first incumbent of a newly created office of State much of the kudos for development will be attached to him.

However, the activities of this Minister in the past six to nine months have proven a point. I often heard that somehow Fianna Fáil did not have the same appreciation for the importance of the arts as other parties. In that regard, the Minister has clearly demonstrated the Government's commitment to the development of the arts. The most important aspect of the Minister's funding for the arts is that the arts plan published by the last Government will be completed a year ahead of schedule. This is an astonishing achievement and one which I do not believe has been emulated in any other Department in that funding set aside for a particular area of policy will accelerate that development to such an astonishing degree. It places a heavy burden on the Arts Council in discharging its responsibilities. While I agree with the aims and objectives of the arts plan which covers all art forms, including music, opera, dance, visual arts, film, literature and drama, the priority of this Government and the Arts Council should be to develop the arts infrastructure outside Dublin and other major centres and make the arts more accessible to a wider population than the traditional middle class. Let us be honest. Ireland has earned a certain amount of kudos internationally from substantial and important events to which, to take Senator Ó Murchú's point with which I agree, the majority have not traditionally related yet they are important in their own right.

I support the view that the arts in all its forms should have a higher priority in our education system, especially music and drama, which has not traditionally been the case. There is a rich tradition of amateur drama in this country. One of the greatest pleasures of my young life was going to see the great Anew McMaster when he visited my home town of Drumshanbo. I know I am probably giving my age away but it was an event which I will always remember. I was ten years of age at the time but such was the impact of this great classical actor on my consciousness that I still vividly remember his Othello and portrayal of St. Patrick among many others which he performed that afternoon on the stage of the local cinema, the only arts centre as such in the town at the time. It was then I first become aware of the power of Shakespearean tragedy and that God promised St. Patrick on Croagh Patrick that Ireland would disappear beneath the waves seven years before the end of the world. I never forgot that and I hope he keeps his promise so that wherever I am at the time I will be suitably attired. Artistic endeavour performed in such a professional manner can be appreciated even by a ten year old so it should not necessarily have to be exclusive to adults or the adult mind.

There is a widespread view in rural Ireland, of which the Minister who represents a rural constituency is probably more acutely aware than most, that money for the arts is distributed among the elite who happen to live in Dublin or Cork. The ordinary person working at community level has little opportunity to access the financial resources necessary to provide an adequate profile for the arts at local level. I say it is a perception but, as we know in politics, perception is all and reality sometimes does not take much account of this.

However, I am pleased to note that in making its decisions on funding for the current year the Arts Council concentrated much of its resources on support for the important and innovative work of existing arts organisations throughout the country. It will support more than 80 festivals nationwide, ranging from the Willie Clancy Summer School to the Cork Film Festival. I understand that it also supports the Joe Mooney Summer School in Drumshambo. Although it has the name of my late father I am not directly involved in its organisation. I applaud those who are involved for not only initiating this event in 1989 after he suddenly passed away in 1988, but also for building it to such an extent that it now ranks second only to the Willie Clancy school in terms of its attraction to people from outside Ireland.

I note that the press release from the Arts Council tends to single out the internationally known festivals as if it is attempting to impress people that its funding covers artistic activity at a certain level. Why should it not be as proud of some of the smaller festivals? This approach represents a mindset rather than the reality and it perpetuates the elitist view.

While it is difficult to spread money around the pork barrel, local festivals, which often have to struggle, should be better supported. They rely on voluntary effort — Senator Ó Murchú referred to this when speaking about Comhaltas Ceoilteoirí — in the absence of which very few of their activities would take place.

The creation of arts officers in each local authority area supplemented by similar appointments by the area partnership boards in recent times is also to be welcomed. However, according to the 1995 report, approximately a dozen local authorities had not at that time appointed local officers. Perhaps the Minister has a view on this, although I understand that most of them have appointed arts officers at this stage. We never had an arts officer in Leitrim; however, we now not only have one, who is co-financed by our colleagues in Longford County Council, but the area partnership board has two arts officers operating within the rural communities. They are doing excellent work.

Traditional music has for long been a second priority in terms of arts funding. However, it has proved that not only is it acceptable and successful among the Irish at home but also among the non-Irish abroad. The case for traditional music was well made by Senator Ó Murchú and I hope that the time has long passed when Comhaltas Ceoltóirí and others involved in traditional music had to go cap in hand to the Arts Council to justify funding applications. I am sure the council has learnt from the great success of "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance" and from the enormous explosion of interest in things Irish, especially in the area of music.

There are many other areas to which this arts plan relates and there are many other areas on which the sum of £26 million will be well spent. However, this is an opportunity to put down a benchmark that after nine months in office the Minister has served her people in the arts well. I hope this is the end of one chapter and the beginning of yet another glorious one. I commend the motion.

Mr. McDonagh

Ar dtús báire caithfidh mé a rá go gcuireann sé áthas orm go bhfuil mé in ann a bheith páirteach sa díospóireacht seo anocht agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil sí ann. The motion is clear and specific and, taken at face value, is difficult to quibble with. We welcome the announcement by the Arts Council of its grant decisions for 1998 and the increase in funding to the many arts groups around the country.

However, many in the arts world know it is disingenuous for the Government to gloat and claim credit in the motion for something which has come about because of the magnificent work undertaken over the past three years by the previous Government. In this regard, I am pleased Senator Mooney recognised the contribution of the former Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Michael D. Higgins. It would be remiss of me not also to pay tribute to Deputy Higgins, a colleague of mine from the constituency of Galway West. As Minister, his contribution to the arts was enormous and he was the fulcrum around which they revolved. He brought a new vision to the arts. It was a time when the seeds were sown and the structures were put in place to transform the intra-arts world.

It is regrettable that those, including the former Minister, who worked so hard to bring the Arts Council and the level of arts funding to their current levels are not here to reap their rewards. Their contribution is not forgotten by those involved in the arts who know that the increased funding and support for the arts resulted from major initiatives undertaken by the previous Government. The former Minister's work in this area will remain unchallenged in the history of the State. This is not to take away from the present Minister, who will continue to carry with distinction the torch lit by her predecessor. It is ironic that both Ministers have a close association with the hurling and banner county of Clare.

While I do not have a major problem with the motion, it should congratulate the previous Government for a legacy which has enabled the Minister to implement an arts plan. As a serving member of the arts committee on Galway County Council I note that in its general election manifesto Fianna Fáil supported a centre for the performing arts in Dublin, yet, ironically, it wants the Arts Council to place new emphasis on the regions. I note also that the plan makes no proposals for the development of the National Library or National Museum, which are the showcases of all that is and has been good in Ireland's artistic and literary heritage. It is also recognised that huge amounts of money are being ploughed into various productions in the capital city.

Are arts organisations developing a strategy for the arts in rural areas? The musical and amateur drama societies are almost totally dependent on sponsorship and contributions from local communities. There are huge costs — anything up to £25,000 — in staging local musicals. Enormous efforts are required of local communities to raise this kind of money, yet the Arts Council offers no support.

As a former secretary of the Western Drama Festival, which was based in Tubbercurry, County Sligo, I am aware that amateur drama societies provide wonderful entertainment, especially during the festival circuits, which commence operations at this time of year. I am a strong supporter of the Clare-Galway Festival, which is adjacent to my area and value the wonderful work undertaken by people involved in this society, such as Séamus McNulty, Hugh Farrell, Mary Fleming, Tom Lenihan and Garód Hartigan. They are the unsung heroes of the amateur dramatics scene.

Work is also being done with little funding in towns such as Tuam, the hometown of the great playwright, Tom Murphy, by people such Kevin Dwyer, who is in the mould of Tom Murphy. I appeal to the Minister to consider amateur dramatics because it is providing wonderful entertainment for people throughout the country. Amateur dramatics is struggling and the audiences are dwindling. Digital television will be introduced soon when 500 screens are brought on stream. The people involved in amateur dramatics are facing a huge problem. They will be wiped out unless they receive funding and assistance from the Government and the Minister. I appeal to the Minister to consider amateur dramatic groups, such as the Claregalway group and others on the circuit. The Minister is aware of the groups from County Clare where drama is so strong. She should assist these groups because otherwise they will be wiped out.

I appeal to the Minister to assist the people involved in the promotion of brass bands and St. Patrick's Day parades in towns. I also ask the Minister to consider Duffy's and Fossett's circuses. They are doing wonderful work in providing entertainment. They are opening windows of wonder for so many people with little or no funding. I appeal to the Minister to consider the areas I mentioned. Despite the points made by Members on the Government side this evening and the patronising and back slapping in which they may indulge, there is still a long way to go. Much needs to be done. Wonderful work is being carried out and the Minister, Deputy de Valera, will respond to the calls because she has rural Ireland at heart. I hope I will have an opportunity in the near future to praise her as much as I praised the former Minister, Deputy Michael D. Higgins, with regard to the arts.

Miss Quill

I wondered if I had come to bury Caesar and not to praise him. However, I welcome the Minister and endorse the welcome for the increased allocation for the implementation of the arts plan. When it was first published it was the first coherent overview of the arts ever undertaken. It contained much interesting and challenging information. One of the points which emerged was that while the arts were thriving in many centres, the exercise was very uneven not only geographically but also on a discipline basis. In the interim a good deal has happened to remedy that imbalance in terms of better provisions for the arts and ensuring stronger arts activity in areas which were previously weak and in sectors where activities had been grossly underfunded.

With regard to dance, the plan confirmed what most people already knew. Dance was the cinderella of the arts and I am glad that position is being remedied. I particularly welcome the allocation of £1 million for the establishment of a national dance rehearsal centre in Dublin, which is, after all, the capital city. This is a major first step towards developing dance. I also welcome the work being done by Firkin Crane in Cork. It is developing on a regional and national basis as a centre of excellence for dance. I am glad that its allocation has been increased this year by 100 per cent. It is a major resource in the development of dance not only for practitioners, but also audiences in Cork city. It is money well spent.

The plan contained many bleak diagrams and maps of areas in the midlands which had very poor arts provisions. This is also being tackled and remedied. For example, £750 was invested in the provision of arts in County Offaly in 1996. I was delighted to note that figure increased in 1997 to £75,000 and that a literary event was held there. This type of development is taking place. It is addressing from the ground up some of the concerns expressed by previous speakers. They said the Arts Council was Dublin driven and orientated and the regions were neglected. They also said the arts were elitist. That was the case at one time and although that imbalance has not been completely redressed, I am convinced we are going in the right direction.

There are now 28 arts officers attached to local authorities. This is a major advance because I recall when there were only seven. Arts officers spot talent and prime local initiatives in the areas of dance, drama or the visual arts. They activate and invigorate the process. They also link up with local authorities which in turn link up with the Arts Council and the Department. This is a recipe for progress. This partnership ensures local initiatives are funded, fed and encouraged. Such partnerships are developing at a rapid rate and it gives me good grounds for optimism. This major change has been brought about recently.

A previous speaker mentioned the regionalisation of arts provision. This is a splendid idea and I compliment the former Minister. Senators are nothing if not fair, irrespective of whether they are on the Government or Opposition benches. It was a splendid idea to locate the chamber orchestra in Limerick. It has revitalised the area and is holding concerts all over the west and midwest. It is commissioning compositions and is a major force in the promotion of music in that part of the country. It was a very good and sensible move. Such moves revitalise and re-energise regions. They also ensure an equal spread in terms of the provision of the arts.

The concept of the centres of excellence is very good and I welcome that Cork city was designated as a centre of excellence for the visual arts. Cork people think, as the city which produced Seán Ó Riada, Professor Fleischmann and others, that it is also the centre of excellence for music. Indeed, some people think the city is the centre of excellence for everything. However, the visual arts are thriving in Cork and I was particularly pleased that the Minister approved the Wandsworth Quay project this week. This refurbished building will house the visual arts, including national printmakers who are located in Cork and a group of art activities. They were labouring under appalling conditions in cold, damp and badly lit warehouses. They will now be housed in a suitable building which will unleash all the potential which exists. It will enable the artists to produce much more material. It was very good news for Cork this week.

I wish to make a number of points about art in education. I am glad the Minister has provided funding for a writer in residence and a composer in residence for Cork city and county. We need to make that provision in primary education. I am glad the budget to Graffiti, the educational theatre group, has been increased.

I am concerned about the reliance on FÁS for provision of workers to art centres. It means there is no lasting base and I fear that will go wrong. If it does, the impact on the arts would be enormous.

I support the motion, but we would all appreciate it if the Minister could bring forward an interim report on the progress made on the implementation of this plan. This would provide us with a better understanding of the progress made, of strengths and weaknesses. It would enable us to direct funds to the places where there are weaknesses so we could have a coherent debate in this Chamber on arts provision.

An investment in the arts is one of the best uses to which money can be put. Not alone is it an investment in our creativity, cultural life and social life, it is a major investment in the economy of the country.

Mr. T. Hayes

I welcome the Minister to the House.

I compliment the Minister for continuing the work of the previous Minister. This country has a huge amount to gain from the promotion of the arts. We are still in our infancy in this area. The huge potential which exists has only been realised in the last few years. Senator Ó Murchú touched on his involvement in Comhaltas Ceoilteoirí Éireann and I commend him for the great work he has done promoting Irish culture not just in this country but worldwide. I compliment him and the organisation on that work.

When I saw this motion on the Order Paper I could not resist being parochial. I use this opportunity to put to the Minister a project about which Oireachtas Members from south Tipperary have spoken to her: the Excel project. This has been thrown around politically but the promoters have grown weary of lobbying people about it. The previous Minister in the Department committed £650,000. The promoters are seeking more money, claiming they cannot proceed without more funding. I have no reason not to believe them. The proposal is sound: they intend to build a badly needed theatre, an art gallery and workshop, an interpretative centre, two cinemas and shops. The number of jobs it will create is potentially huge and of great benefit to Tipperary, which has suffered more from unemployment than any other area. The town needs this project to go ahead to attract the tourists passing through on the way to Cashel, Cahir and Killarney. The potential for jobs in a centre like this would give a great boost to the town and the surrounding area. I ask the Minister to bring this matter to a head as it has been going on for too long without a brick being laid. Will the Minister see if the money can be allocated? Tipperary has a successful track record in this field. The proposed investment of £750,000 towards a new museum in Clonmel is welcome, but the people of Tipperary town feel left out. I appeal to the Minister to give it her best shot.

Mr. Chambers

I am delighted to welcome the Minister to the House.

I am very proud of the arts in this country. The development of the visual arts, music and culture have given a great example of what Ireland has to offer other nationalities. They play a fundamental role in the development of our tourism industry. They give an indication abroad of a great richness of culture. It is ever evolving.

The number of creative artists in all areas is most noticeable throughout the country, be it in visual arts, music, drama or literature. We have developed as a country with a richness which is internationally recognised.

I welcome the Minister's commitment to the development of the arts and I take this opportunity to compliment the previous Minister for his great foresight in providing money for that area. The present Minister's continuation of that investment and her commitment to a national plan for artistic development is to be welcomed. It develops in a positive manner a tremendous resource which exists.

I appointed the first artist in residence and writer in residence in my county. I remember the small amount of money provided by the county council. With all the pressures on county councils at the time there was a reluctance to provide money in that area, yet it was one of the greatest investments they could make. It has played a very important part in the artistic development of the county. Any counties without a writer or artist in residence, or an arts officer, should act immediately in the interests of their own people and the development of the county.

The local authorities should work cohesively with the Arts Council. There should be a link between the county councils and the Arts Council in planning the use of this investment by the State in the development of the arts.

There are many great exhibitions and displays taking place throughout the country. I do not know if a figure has been put on the number of people involved in the arts development sector but in towns such as Westport it plays a very important part and provides a lot of part-time and some full-time employment. That culture exists right along the western seaboard, particularly in towns that have developed culture and drama centres.

The music network system supported by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has been a great development. It provides an opportunity for ourselves and people from abroad to see the natural ability of our musicians as they provide cultural entertainment that has been part of our tradition for so long. There has also been the development of sculpture trails. We have developed a richness that was not there before and not exploited in the way that it should be. Set dancing, which used to be confined to County Clare and its environs, is now a national pastime that has developed across all boundaries in every county. There is also an opportunity for disabled persons to participate in the development of the arts in the future. Positive moves are being made in some counties in this area. National Government policy should include people from all walks of life. Marginalised people should play an important part in the development of our arts. We should also look at traditional trades like that of tinsmith. On heritage days held in towns throughout country the most popular displays are those of old traditions.

In conclusion, I extend good wishes to a great artist, Christy Moore, who is not feeling well. He has provided entertainment for people at home and abroad through his music and songs.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I am sure the Senator speaks for all Members.

Mr. Lanigan

I am delighted to see the Minister because this is a very important debate. In the past it was thought that only a small group of people were involved in the arts and culture sector of Irish society. We were lucky that the Anglo-Irish kept their tradition of visual arts alive and produced a huge number of historical pictures of Ireland in the old days. We have come full circle. Last night I watched an RTE programme called "Ear to the Ground" where a Mayo farmer with ten acres has left farming and with EU funding created a farm museum. As Senator Chambers mentioned the tinsmith, there was one working in this museum. These people were maintaining our old traditions. But for EU funding these traditions would be lost.

The Minister visited Kells, County Kilkenny, within the past ten days. It is probably one of the best walled towns in Ireland, perhaps even Europe. Many people would only have heard of Kells, County Meath. The Minister will ensure that this situation changes. One of our most valuable historical monuments in European or international terms is in Kells, County Kilkenny. The monastery's walled area, which dates back many centuries, is virtually intact. I am delighted the Minister has guaranteed money for this project in next year's budget.

Historically, we must remind ourselves that we are a multi-cultural society. Many of us come from Gaelic or Anglo-Irish extraction. Some of us also come from French or German extraction. In Galway you will find the Spanish influence. But in many parts of this country we have historical connections with Europe. These influences which make us special have come from various places overseas, such as North Africa.

The Minister must recognise the work done by every local genealogical society. They go into graveyards, write down the names and keep a record of the history of the parish and county. This information is then sent to your office or another relevant one. Local history, arts and verbal arts must be remembered. Visual arts are booming in Ireland from the ground up. There is a huge number of unemployed people, some might call them unemployable because they are a little outside society, who are now painting. I would like to see extended to them the help given to top artists by way of tax incentives. Someone in receipt of social welfare should be allowed earn some money from painting or sculpting without the fear of losing their benefits. In other words, whatever money they make should not be taxed. They should get the same tax benefits as someone who comes in here and makes a film. These film makers get BSE schemes and all the tax benefits while someone with a talent for painting and sculpting is on the dole. If they sell their works why should they be taxed when wealthier people are not?

Kilkenny is a very valuable artistic and cultural resource. The organisation with which Senator Ó Murchú is associated has done great work in making us proud of our musical heritage.

Social welfare recipients who are working artists should get financial benefits in the same way as do better off artists who are in the tax system do. This would bring about an artistic renaissance in Ireland. The primitive artists of Tory would never have been known if their talent had not been recognised and cultivated by Derek Hill and Ireland and the world would have lost an important piece of our visual artistic culture.

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I thank the House for inviting me and for giving me this opportunity to hear the views of Senators on the arts. Important points were made with regard to amateur drama and what Senator Ó Murchú referred to as the native arts. Ireland is tremendously rich in both these fields. My own county of Clare has shown a great interest in and commitment to amateur drama. The festivals of Feakle, Scariff and Dunbeg are famous. The value of amateur drama is recognised in many centres throughout the country. I join Senators in paying tribute to Senator Ó Murchú's work with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. We owe a great deal to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for keeping our musical heritage alive at a time when there was not as much sympathy for our native arts as there is now.

I agree that art should not be subservient to commercial concerns. The independence of the arts is important in any democracy. The arts can flourish in times of difficulty. Indeed further artistic richness and diversity can sometimes grow out of difficulty.

References have been made to specific projects and to some of our national institutions. I congratulate Mr. Brendan O'Donoghue, director of the National Library, on his work and particularly on his efforts to extend the opening hours of the library. The Government is committed to the performing arts centre. We envisage the centre being situated in Dublin but I have a great commitment to regionalisation. National institutions must be aware that regionalisation is extemely important for the democratisation of the arts. The Excel project is being examined in my Department and a decision will be forthcoming soon. Senator Lanigan is correct in saying that I very much enjoyed my visit to Kilkenny. I am, however, not in a position to give a guarantee of funding to the Kells project yet. I look upon it with a great deal of sympathy but I must work within the confines of my departmental budget. Arts officers play an important part in the regionalisation of the arts and I will refer to them later.

I wish to reaffirm the Government's and my commitment to the development of the arts in Ireland. Over recent years there has been an explosion in the level of interest and participation in the arts. Far from being considered an elitist pursuit, the 1990s have seen the arts become integrated into the fabric of everyday life. This nation will be incomplete if economic achievement is to be regarded as the sole bench-mark of its success. The soul of Ireland must be nourished as well as the body.

This Government recognises and acknowledges the value of the arts for the development and well being of society and also recognises the opportunities that the arts create for innovative employment and their contribution to the general economy. This commitment to the development of the arts is very much to the fore in the programme for Government, An Action Plan for the Millennium. Like any area, financial resources are an essential key to the development of the arts and one of my key priorities in the programme for Government was the provision this year of £26 million for the Arts Council to implement the policies and proposals set out in the Council's Arts Plan. The Government has delivered on this commitment. As Senators will be aware, the Arts Plan, 1995-7, was prepared by An Chomhairle Ealaíon/The Arts Council at the request of my predecessor. The previous Government accepted that this plan, which had been presented to my predecessor in 1994, should be the basis for a programme of action for the succeeding three years, 1995-97. With the publication of the arts plan, great hope was instilled in the arts community and the general public that the necessary funding would be made available by the previous Government to enable the targets and objectives in the plan to become a reality within the timescale identified. As everyone is aware, the required level of funding was not forthcoming and the Arts Council felt obliged to recast its plan, prepared at the request of the then Government, as a five year plan from 1995 to 1999.

While in opposition, I strenuously objected to extending the life of the plan and committed myself and Fianna Fáil to implementing the funding targets set out in the plan at the first opportunity. I made a commitment to this effect in my party's manifesto and in the Programme for Government. I was pleased to secure the major increase of 25 per cent in the Arts Council grant in 1998, thereby bringing the council's funding level to £26 million. In providing this funding I have met in full the commitment to facilitating the Arts Council to implement the arts plan by the end of 1998.

Over the past number of years the Arts Council has become a centrally important national development and resource agency for the arts in all its forms. The Arts Council has set out to promote quality and innovation in all aspects of the practice of the arts and to encourage genuine participation in the arts.

There are sufficient economic arguments, both nationally and internationally, to justify increased investment in the arts. In a study commissioned by the council in 1994, the arts, as defined in respect of the remit of the council, generated an output of £225 million and employed 14,500 people. The council now estimates that, in the fourth year of the plan, its activities and its support of individual artists and arts organisations give rise to over 22,000 full-time jobs and stimulate a significant turnover of almost £500 million. The increase to £26 million to the Arts Council in 1998 will see additional direct investment in the arts through an increase in the amounts and the number of awards to individual artists and arts organisations. This will stimulate further employment and investment in the cultural field and in the economy generally.

I will now inform the House how the Arts Council has seen the benefits of the arts plan filter through in the eight distinct areas of artistic practice — architecture, dance, drama, film, literature, music, opera and the visual arts. Senators will appreciate that in making these comments I fully respect the statutory autonomy of the council in deciding what disciplines to support and how it disburses its annual grant allocation from Government.

To date under the arts plan the Arts Council has supported a variety of architectural exhibitions and publications and has co-operated with the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland in promoting a major series of exhibitions and lectures about architecture aimed particularly at schools. The council advises that this support will continue and that the level of funding secured for 1998 will facilitate the retention of a consultant architect who was appointed in 1997 and who has been commissioned to develop a more proactive policy in architecture. This individual will also be of immense value to the Arts Council in its work to promote greater architectural standards for arts buildings.

The Arts Council is virtually the sole source of support for dance as an art form in Ireland. The objectives for dance set out in the arts plan were wide ranging and extensive. The council admits that some of these objectives — such as the promotion of an appropriate level of infrastructure for dance and the provision of a dancer in residence programme — have not yet been realised. However, with the funding I have put in place for 1998, the council is confident that these vital elements of the plan can now be progressed.

Everyone is aware that Irish theatre, both in terms of contemporary writing and performance, has achieved extraordinary critical success here and abroad over the years. We can be very proud of this success. In allocating its support for drama the council concentrates on quality, creation of opportunities for the individual artist and the provision of access. The council in 1998 intends to complete the regrading of the 32 production companies receiving annual support and to put mechanisms in place to develop the audience for Irish theatre both at home and abroad. It will also work on the provision of a code of practice for theatre by and for children and young people.

Notwithstanding the incentive schemes in place for the development of the Irish film industry through Bórd Scannaín na hÉireann and tax based incentives, the council believes it has a pivotal role to play particularly in support of the individual film maker as an artist and the encouragement of innovation and experimentation within the art form. A major review of Arts Council support to film has been completed which identifies as a priority the support of film exhibition. The increased level of funding will allow for greater support in 1998 for film festivals and for the creation of a designated film exhibition fund.

Apart from drama the discipline of literature is perhaps the area that attracts enormous international acclaim. Through the arts plan, the Arts Council plays a very important role in the continued dynamic development of Irish literature in both the Irish and English languages. The council reports that many of the targets set out in the plan have been achieved and it proposes to continue to support literature through the provision of bursaries and awards to individual writers and to support a range of literary organisations. It will also continue its very valuable work in the promotion of literature among children and young people. The Action Programme for the Millennium particularly recognised the importance of support of the arts through Irish. The two disciplines where this is obviously critical are the areas of writing for the theatre and literature. I expect that the review of the arts plan to which I will refer later will address particularly the extent to which these disciplines have developed and prospered.

Senators will be aware of the priority I give to music and the development of the indigenous music industry. There have been several recent reports on the music industry. These include the IBEC Report "Striking the Right Note", the FORTE Report "Access All Areas" the Report of the European Music Office, a body supported by DG Xl, entitled "Music In Europe" and the PIANO Report. Without doubt music has a great deal to offer not only in terms of its intrinsic cultural and artistic value but also in terms of a modem sophisticated industry with enormous potential for employment and wealth creation. For example, the FORTE Report indicates that music already accounts for 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Ireland. It is also a major contributor to other sectors including Ireland's success as a tourist destination and it has greatly enhanced our image abroad.

We rightly take pride in the international success of Irish artists and can look forward with confidence to Irish music claiming a greater share of a world recorded market which, in 1995, was estimated to be worth approximately £24.68 billion.

In its arts plan, the Arts Council highlighted several areas in which music can be supported. For example, it highlighted the need to support specialist forms of music, such as jazz, recordings of contemporary music, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, which has relocated to Limerick, etc. The Arts Council informs me that it has been working on all these objectives and can claim notable success in many of them. The acceleration of the arts plan means that additional resources will be made available to these priority areas.

Opera is another area which will benefit from increased funding in 1998. The £26 million funding will allow for continued major support to opera companies and, in particular, allow a nationwide tour of three productions by Irish companies to ensure that opera is available to the maximum number of people.

To sustain a career in the visual arts an artist needs a suitable working environment, time to create and develop and promote their work in addition to access to training and career development opportunities. The Arts Council is active in all these areas and it offers financial assistance to individuals, studios and other production facilities.

On a more general note, the arts plan is underpinned by an area based approach. The area based approach to planning is one in which the needs of a given area are addressed by developing integrated policies and services across all sectors. It seeks to maximise benefits through a planned co-operative approach combining elements of bottom up and top down activity and open to opportunity in a wider social context. It is important to highlight that with the exception of three local authorities, all now have arts officers who are co-funded by the council and work in close co-operation with it to promote the arts locally.

The Arts Council advises that progress in identified priority zones and strategic centres of co-operation has been significant. It states the concept of designating counties and cities in this way has worked most successfully where the response to the designation from the local arts community and authorities has been positive and active. However, the full impact of designation will not be measurable until the end term review of the arts plan.

The council planned to create an infrastructure in the priority zones which would allow a gradual and appropriate growth in arts activity. Investment was targeted specifically towards initiatives which would increase the capacity of local authorities, arts organisations and other agencies to support artists in the making and presentation of art within the county and to improve the experience of audiences in terms of more regular opportunities to see art presented and exhibited, and creating opportunities for audiences to enhance the quality of their experience through awareness building initiatives and opportunities for participation.

I refer to three locations where the council believes this approach works on the ground and additional investment in 1998 will allow for this. In 1996 the Arts Council entered into a formal partnership with Laois County Council to support a planned approach to arts development. The direct value of the partnership was £60,000 between two agencies. One of the most significant projects resulting from this partnership is the Laois tapestry project, a two year arts initiative bringing together a consortium of interests, including FÁS and the county enterprise board. The project involves the development of skills among a range of unemployed people and may serve as a model for the arts within local economic and social development strategies. In addition, a detailed evaluation has been carried out which will serve as a template for a model of evaluation for local arts development projects.

My second example is in Donegal where major investment has been made into arts venues' infrastructure. A partnership has been created around support to a number of venues. The Abbey Centre in Ballyshannon received a consolidation grant of £40,000 in 1996 to secure its operations. Funding for the programming and staffing has been agreed for the Letterkenny Arts Centre and a full time manager has recently been appointed. A network of touring venues receives support under the council's drama guarantees against loss schemes and investment in the provision of artists' studios has been made. Support for two arts development organisations, Artlink in Buncrana and Beyond Borders in Inishowen, has been increased from £1,450 in 1994 to £31,700 in 1997 allowing these organisations to pursue high quality arts programmes at local and community level. In addition, support has been given during the life of the plan to a range of small arts organisations and projects, including Killybegs writers workshop, Inishowen traditional singing workshops and the innovative Oideas Gael project which has served as a model of good practice for a similar initiative in Laois.

My third example relates to Cork which was given a visual arts designation in the plan. The Cork Arts Development Committee provided a structure which has allowed the visual arts community to set an active agenda for development in the context of the strategic centre designation. The development of artists' studios was identified as a priority by the group. The Arts Council has supported this development to the value of £250,000. The local authority formed a partnership with the Blackwater/Cork Printmakers Group at the instigation of the Arts Council and applied successfully for funding under the cultural development incentive scheme.

I now turn to the concept of community arts which began to emerge in Europe and the United States during the 1960s. It has been recognisable in Ireland since the 1970s. The unique nature of community arts and its constantly changing and evolving emphasis to meet the changing needs of participants makes definition difficult. It is essentially about empowering communities and encouraging their self expression and is generally associated with the marginalised sector of the community. While it is undoubtedly true that many more people are accessing art now than was the case previously, many on low incomes in our society are still excluded. One just has to read the report —"Poverty: Access and Participation in the Arts" prepared by the Combat Poverty Agency and the Arts Council and published in 1997 to get a feel for the extent of the problem that still exists.

The community arts in Ireland are still relatively young and having developed from many various social concerns, it still suffers from a lack of clear definition. The development objectives for community arts in the Arts plan centred around the creation and support of partnerships to address the needs of communities. Community arts are a priority for the council and it has developed a number of initiatives in support of this priority status. In 1998 the council will build on these initiatives and will engage with the community arts sector to develop a policy and an agreed programme. There is a need to develop and refine networks consisting of the many organisations involved in community arts in Ireland.

I refer to the area of arts and disabilities. The question of access to and participation in the arts is of interest to the Government. The issue of making arts accessible to sections of society which have been culturally disenfranchised has also been of central concern to the Arts Council and those involved in the arts world for a number of years. This concern is dominating cultural policy not just in Ireland but in many European countries. I have long been of the opinion that it is a fundamental right of all citizens to have full access to all art forms. In recent years sound economic arguments have been put forward for investment in and promotion by central and local government of arts and cultural activities.

However, it is vital that in tandem with this approach, we also stress the real value of the social significance of arts and cultural activities, and particularly how these activities can benefit the marginalised and less well off in society. Barriers such as access, transport, costs, training, and attitudes to full participation in the arts for the marginalised and people with disabilities must be tackled and increased activity in the arts sector and simultaneous development in the disability sector imply greater opportunities for people with disabilities to participate at every level.

The Arts Council is committed to increasing the level of participation in the arts by people with disabilities and will support and develop arts and disability through a process of policy development, partnerships and support. It has already undertaken a number of initiatives, including a programme of disability equality training for its members and staff, and a physical access audit to ensure its premises are accessible to people with disabilities. Increased funding to the Arts Council in 1998 will allow it to maintain staff resources working in this area.

The council advises me that the increased funding in 1998 will also enable it to enact measures to encourage and support arts organisations and people with disabilities to devise ways of promoting inclusion of people with disabilities in arts activities. This will include the development of a programme of disability equality training specifically for arts organisations and the production of a disability resource pack and guidelines which will be developed in consultation with relevant disability organisations. I welcome the council's commitment to develop a policy and code of practice for arts and disability which will integrate disability issues in all art form areas and activities.

As a result of the funding provided by the Government in 1998, the Arts Council expects to have substantially completed its arts plan at the end of the year. The question as to whether there is to be a follow on plan is a logical one. I am confident such a plan will be developed by the council for consideration by Government. In this regard my Department and the executive of the council have agreed that an in depth, independent evaluation of the achievements brought about through the significant increased expenditure on the arts over the years 1995 to 1998 will be carried out. The results of the evaluation will be used to inform the preparation of the follow on plan. I will be especially interested in the progress made in regard to support for disabled artists and regional emphasis as well as for the arts in and through the Irish language, key priorities identified in the Action Programme for the Millennium.

In conclusion, I am happy to say that the investment of £26 million to the Arts Council in 1998 will close the book, or bring the curtain down, on the current arts plan. There is much more to be done, however. I am now looking at how best to provide for and support the future development of the arts in Ireland. The end term review of the arts plan will provide for a comprehensive review by means of research and consultation with both the arts sector and the general public. The review will also provide the dynamism and framework for the future strategic planning for the arts.

Mr. Gallagher

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive address.

Many Members of this House will be aware of the great effort which is being made at local level, both through voluntary cultural organisations and local authority arts officers and arts programmes, to ensure that the type of development envisaged in the arts plan, which has been funded by the allocation which the Minister secured for this year, is delivered locally. It is all very well for us to sit here in Dublin talking about the arts. It is another thing entirely to ensure that the development in policy and the increase in funding is delivered to the areas in which we live and about which we are concerned.

I, like all Members, welcome the increased allocation to the Arts Council this year. I am glad that the Minister has secured it to speed up the implementation of the arts plan, which was developed by the Arts Council and presented to the Government during the tenure of her predecessor. The arts plan and the associated funding, coupled with the capital investment for the arts which was secured through the Minister's predecessor, Deputy Michael D. Higgins, as part of the National Development Plan, has led to an increase not only in interest and funding for the arts but in proper venues for the arts throughout the country. I am glad the Minister mentioned a number of individual projects and I will refer to them later.

However, I ask the Minister to look at the way the Arts Council conducts its relationship with the voluntary bodies and local authorities at local level because improvement in communication and mutual understand there could do much to ensure that the plan as envisaged and the promised money can be effectively delivered to the extent that it makes a difference at local level. As somebody who is involved in the arts at local level and who has fought successfully as a member of a local authority to ensure the funding of a county arts officer, it is my belief that the Arts Council can certainly improve its communication with local authorities and cultural and arts organisations at local level. Unfortunately, it is still perceived as an organisation which is based in Dublin and sometimes biased towards Dublin.

My local authority, Offaly County Council, has been seeking to set up a meeting to have an exchange of views with either members or staff of the Arts Council for the past year and a half. To date, I regret to say, we have not been successful in doing so.

I compliment, however, the work of the arts officers in local authorities. They provide a vital link between the Department, the Arts Council, the local authority members and the organisations and individuals interested in the arts in each county. It is my sincere view that the direct communication between the Arts Council and those bodies is no substitution for the excellent work of the arts officers. I would appreciate if the Minister would follow up on this with the Arts Council and encourage both members and staff to get out around the country as much as possible, to understand local needs and to appreciate what is being done.

I welcome in particular the Minister's reference to community arts. When funding and policy are moving in the direction of better support for the arts we must perpetually guard against people being excluded from what is going on because life experience, educational experience or level of income has not permitted them in the past to develop the creative and artistic side of their lives. I welcome the prominence which the Arts Council has given that, but that commitment cannot be delivered unless the members and staff of the Arts Council get a feel for what is going on at local level.

A second area I wish to raise with the Minister is the need for clarification from the Arts Council on the exact policy it is following in deciding whether or not to provide current funding subventions for many of the arts centres which are being built with Structural Funds at present.

The Minister mentioned County Laois, which is in my constituency, where excellent work is being done under the arts officer there, Muireann Uí Chonaill. They have secured capital funding for an arts centre and it is proceeding well because the local authority has underwritten it.

In County Offaly we have secured funding for the development of the Oxmantown Hall in Birr, but we have not been able to draw down that funding yet because we are still trying to meet the requirements of the Department for the local authority to underwrite that indefinitely. I know the Minister is aware of that and I know she is assisting in the matter. We had a meeting recently with a representative of the Arts Council and it was made clear to us that some centres are receiving funding towards their current costs. We would like to know which centres are receiving it, how does one receive it and what is the policy, because while the local authority and the voluntary sector in the area have done wonders in raising capital funds and trying to meet the demands for underwriting current expenditure, we would be assisted greatly if the Arts Council could spell out its policy and give us favourable consideration for current funding for the next five to ten years.

In conclusion, I wish to mention two areas. Much could be done to promote community arts if the Arts Council developed a straightforward coherent policy which would link them to the area-based partnerships which ADM is funding under the local development programme. They are doing excellent work throughout the country. They provide a vehicle, which is community based and comprehensive, through which the Arts Council would work. I recommend consideration of that vehicle in the development of community arts.

Regretfully, the news about the Laois tapestry project is not as rosy as that which has been presented to the Minister. There is a great deal of dissatisfaction among the people who have participated in that project that it has come to an end without the type of follow on opportunities for further training, education or employment which they expected. I know it is not within the Minister's direct area of responsibility, but I would appreciate if the Department would take it up with the Arts Council and get back to Laois County Council, FÁS and the Laois County Enterprise Board to see if those women, who have learned and developed so much over the past two years, can be provided with further opportunities for education, training and possibly employment in the arts in the year ahead. These people would certainly like such opportunities.

I appreciate the brief opportunity to contribute, a Chathaoirligh, but I hope we will be returning to the subject of the arts in this House before too long.

Mr. Cassidy

I thank the Minister for her contribution. I am pleased that she has this portfolio under her stewardship. It is nice to be here to welcome this year's allocation of £26 million to the arts, which speaks volumes for her standing within the Government. The Minister has a special interest in those who are disabled and who want to make a contribution to the arts. About 300,000 disabled people wish to be involved in the arts. The National Arts and Disability Centre sent me a report to pass on to the Minister seeking more help for that organisation.

As the Minister pointed out, dance has had incredible success in recent times. Ten years ago we could not have imagined what the success of dance has done for tourism, culture, young people and how it has provided a show case for Ireland abroad. The show "Lord of the Dance" is set to break the performance record in Wembley Stadium in London by playing for 21 consecutive nights, breaking the previous record of 18 consecutive nights held by Cliff Richard. That means that about 0.5 million will have seen "Lord of the Dance" at Wembley. "Riverdance" has three troupes performing around the world, displaying Irish dancing and filling theatres in competition will world class entertainers.

Irish dance and music have unique qualities. They are a trademark for success for future generations. I commend the Minister for her continued support for dance and music. However, jazz and contemporary chamber music would not have popularity ratings of more than 2 per cent and I question the expenditure of funds on them. There are many brilliant young musicians from rural areas who need assistance but get nothing but the dole. The Government should take a particular interest in this issue. These creative young musicians have not asked the Government for a penny, yet the creativity of Irish musicians is recognised the world over. In the Minister's constituency there is an abundance of musical talent, talent of the kind that the Government should support. They may not have been the vehicles for Government funds to date but the range of expertise and advice available from those associated with the industry is available to assist the Minister.

I have spent 20 years seeking funds to create new museum attractions and I have been turned down on numerous occasions. I have one of the top ten tourism attractions in the country and I was only offered a £40,000 feasibility study in 1977. I have applied to the Arts Council and other bodies on many occasions. We employ the only full-time sculptor in the country and we receive no assistance from the Arts Council. The top tourist attraction in London is Madame Tussaud's which had a throughput of over 11 million people last year. Yet when a family concern tries to develop something similar here nobody wants to know about it. I agreed with Senator Gallagher when he spoke about the difficulty of even meeting people from the Arts Council. It is a shame that a national tourist attraction is not supported. It provides a history of Ireland from Wolfe Tone to the present day Taoisigh and Uachtaráin. I raise this matter in the House reluctantly.

I support the Minister in her endeavours. I am pleased to see a person with her positive attitude in the post.

Mr. B. Ryan

Níl fhios agam faoi mholtaí mar seo in aon chor. Tá moladh tuillte ag an Rialtas os rud é go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó airgid á chaitheamh acu ar chúrsaí ealaíon ná mar a bhíomar ag súil leis agus tá moladh ag teastáil. Bheadh sé níos fearr dá mbeadh dearcadh éigin ag an moladh taobh amuigh de mholadh a thabhairt don Rialtas. Tá a fhios agam go gcaithfidh na daoine sa Teach seo a thugann tacaíocht don Rialtas moladh a thabhairt dóibh. Ach b'fhéidir go bhféadfaidís samhlaíocht a úsáid beagáinín níos mó as seo amach chun a mhíniú dúinn cad a theastaíonn uathu go ndéanfadh an Rialtas as seo amach.

Cé go bhfuil moladh tuillte ag an Aire agus ag an Rialtas ós rud é go bhfuil an oiread sin airgid á chaitheamh anois ná héistímis riamh leis an "populist nonsense" mar a deirtear sa Bhéarla faoi airgead ar chúrsaí ealaíon a bheith caite ar leataobh nó caite ar spéis atá ag mionlach. Is mór an trua gur ag mionlach as tír is mó atá suim i gcúrsaí ealaíon ach bheadh an tír go léir níos saibhre in a lán slite dá mba rud é go raibh an gnáth-dhuine ábalta páirt níos mó a ghlacadh i gcúrsaí ealaíon, dá mbéadh an gnáth-dhuine ábalta níos mó tuisceana agus níos mó féin-mhuiníne a bheith aige nó aici as a bheith ag féachaint ar phictiúir, ar scannáin, ar dhrámaí agus a bheith ag éisteacht le ceol agus gan a bheith ag brath i gcomhnaí ar na saineolaithe a bhíonn ag iarraidh a mhíniú dóibh can ba chóir dóibh taitneamh a bhaint as agus cad nach chóir dóibh taitneamh a bhaint as.

An chomhairle a thabharfainn do ghnáth-dhaoine ná gan na criticí a léamh riamh agus dul amach agus taitneamh a bhaint as pé rud a thaithníonn leo. Ag an am céanna ní aontaím leis an Seanadóir Ó Casaide nuair a deireann sé nach fiú airgead a chaitheamh ar rudaí nach bhfuil ach suim ag fíor-bheagán daoine sa tír iontu. Is iad siúd na rudaí is mó ar chóir tacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh. Is cuma muna bhfuil ann ach dó faoin gcéad nó aon faoi gcéad. Má tá daoine ann is cóir dúinn cabhrú leo mar is saibhreas é. Is sórt pluralism é a bheith ábalta cabhrú le gach éinne agus tá spéis faoi leith agamsa i ngné den ealaín atá an-imeallach. Agus tá suil agam go bhfuil suim ag an Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Mhurchú ann. Sin amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós, an modh ealaíon, b'fhéidir, is seanaoise atá againn. Téann sé chomh fada siar nach bhfuil fhios againn cad as a tháinig sé. Is féidir a rá gur as Tuaisceart na hAfraice a tháinig an stíl i dtús báire, na céadta bliana ó shin agus nach bhfuil a leithéad le cloisteáil áit ar bith eile san Eoraip nó ar domhan. Níl mórán tacaíochta á tabhairt don sean-nós. Tá sé deacair ceirníní a fháil ach tá an scéal níos fearr anois ná mar a bhí sé agus tá moladh ag dul don Chomhairle Ealaíon agus do RTÉ as an méid tacaíochta atá tugtha acu. Is é an ceol traidisiúnta agus an amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós an gné ealaíon is mó a bhfuil a fréamhacha sa tír seo amháin. Seo rud nach dtuigeann gnáth-dhaoine.

B'fhéidir nach bhfuil ach leath d'aon faoin gcéad den phobal ábalta amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós a thuiscint. B'fhéidir go bhfuil beagáinín níos mó ná sin ábalta taitneamh a bhaint as. Ach ní hionann sin is a rá nach bhfuil sé thar a bheith tábhachtach nó nach cóir cabhrú le daoine. Ní bheidh an sean stíl a bhíodh ann le fáil nó ní féidir an caighdeán a bhíodh ann a choimeád mar níl na structúir thraidisiúnta anois ann a bhíodh ann.

Caithfear cabhrú leis na daoine óga ins na Gaeltachtaí agus taobh amuigh de na Gaeltachtaí. Deir na daoine nach bhfuil an caighdeán i gCorn Uí Riada mar shampla chomh hard is a bhíodh sé. B'fhéidir go bhfuil sé in am dúinn an duais atá ar fáil do Chorn Uí Riada in Oireachtas na Gaeilge a mhéadú mar ní dóigh liom go bhfuil mórán meas ag a lán daoine anois ar dhuaiseanna agus b'fhéidir go gcosnódh sé níos mó ar dhaoine deireadh seachtaine a chaitheamh i nDún na nGall má tá orthu taisteal ó Chiarraí ná mar is fiú an duais anois.

It is extremely important not to let this pragmatic, competitive world descend too heavily on us and never to underestimate the role of the arts. They are worthwhile in themselves and are also worthwhile to help people understand what people do when they play, sing, act, dance, paint or even talk -the Irish are probably the people best able to claim to have turned talk into an art form.

We should never underestimate the significance of the arts, which is why this money is never badly spent. One can never spend too much on the arts in terms of what they do for — dare I say this, in our increasingly secularised society — our spiritual values, in the broadest sense of those words. I use a small "s" for spiritual and a small "v" for values, lest I be accused of something or other. The arts are essentially spiritual but they have a huge commercial spin-off and create much worthwhile employment. The arts centre I know best is the Triskel in Cork, where a number of people work for relatively small amounts of money, with enormous imagination and enthusiasm, and are forever looking for new ideas.

Aontaím leis an rún. Tá an-moladh tuillte ag an Aire agus an Rialtas ach tá súil agam go leathnófar amach an dearcadh atá ag An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Tá an cuma air go bhfuil "elitism" ag dul beagáin leis na healaíona agus ní cóir gur mar sin atá sé. Mar a dúras níos luaithe, ba mhaith liom go gcabhródh siad leis an amhránaíocht, an tsean-nós atá i mbaol agus a bheidh i mbaol i gcónaí mar gheall ar na hathruithe atá go teacht sa saol.

Mr. T. Fitzgerald

Ar dtús ba mhaith liom céad míle fáilte a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach agus comhghairdeas a ghabháil léithi as an méid airgid atá sí tar éis a thabhairt don Chomhairle Ealaíon. Guím rath Dé ar an obair atá á dhéanamh aici maidir leis na healaíon, an cultúr agus an Ghaeilge.

I congratulate the Minister on what she set out to do as Opposition spokesperson when she put forward an arts plan. Those of us who attended her meetings may claim to have made a small contribution to it. The programme will be completed in 1998 and that is a great achievement. She has the full support of the Taoiseach and the Government for this work.

Tributes have been paid to many people tonight. The literary world lost a great master last week in Dr. Bryan MacMahon of Listowel and we appreciate everything he did throughout his life. He was not just a writer, he was a storyteller, a musician, a dancer — he could be put in charge of anything.

Mention was made of the great work done by Senator Ó Murchú's organisation. There are times when he might think that when we receive his monthly magazine, An Treoir, we throw it in the wastebasket but we do not. It is treasured by all who receive it. We read its stories, anecdotes, old songs and music because they are “part of what we are”, in the words of the lovely old gentleman who presented the “Waltons” radio programme.

There is a wealth of culture and heritage on our island which we could talk about forever. I was thrilled to accompany the Minister the other day to Muckross House in Killarney. The money going towards that and other projects is well spent. However, in places where the tourist population is not as large as in Killarney, some projects run into trouble because the tourism season is much shorter. Some museums and heritage centres have a season of only two months and the income from that is not enough to keep them going. These projects should be propped up, if required, until they are on their feet.

I congratulate the Minister. Her grandfather, the late Éamon de Valera, started this off and it is nice to see her fulfil that work and do something which he was unable to do in his time. I hope she will be successful and will continue as she has started. Tosnú maith é leath na hoibre.

Mr. Mooney

Am I in order in sharing time with Senator Ó Murchú?

An Cathaoirleach

You are if the House consents. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Mooney

I am grateful to the Minister for her comprehensive statement on the motion, which has afforded us an opportunity to discover her thinking and to hear about the projects which have been successfully concluded since the allocation of money some months ago.

As regards film development, before Christmas we had an exchange of views on mobile cinema. Would she or her Department be prepared to fund access cinema in rural areas? I have in mind such a project in County Leitrim which would be a follow up to the successful mobile cinema which operated in the Border counties and was co-funded by the Department. Cinema is developing and attendances are up but unfortunately many cinemas in small towns and villages have been converted into bingo halls, community centres, etc. Has the Minister views on this and will there be policy moves in the area?

The FORTE report was particularly critical of RTE's music policy, specifically in relation to its alleged lack of support for the indigenous music industry. RTE, which is within the Minister's remit, has decided to create a third channel, which has been loosely called an "arts channel". There is a view that this arts channel will cater specifically to classical music. National airwaves are a scarce resource. As the Minister has clearly identified, there are eight forms of artistic endeavour, not all of which lend themselves to sound broadcasting. I ask the Minister to be vigilant in relation to the proposals which will emanate from RTE for this arts channel.

Traditional Irish music has as strong a justification for being included in an arts channel as classical music. When a number of people who like classical music — and I must confess I like the general classics — write to The Irish Times letters page it immediately triggers a reaction from RTE. There is a silent majority who would like to hear much more on a national radio channel than classical music.

VECs need resources to fund particular arts activities in their administrative area. They traditionally funded them from grants from the Department of Education and Science. However, over the past 12 or 18 months the Department of Education and Science said this is a function for the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. These projects, which require small contributions in the region of £100 or £300, have now stopped, yet they are an important part of local artistic endeavour. I ask the Minister to enable vocational education committees to fund local arts projects which the Arts Council does not fund.

Labhrás Ó Murchú

It was evident today that there is unanimity across the House on the attention which Irish art forms deserve at local level. I was interested to hear the Minister reiterate her support for regionalisation. I do not see any reason regional arts councils should not be considered.

We should always bear in mind that art can play a very important role on this island. Most Members will have experienced cross-Border co-operation in the fields of music, drama and other aspects of art where people never question one's political allegiance or how one adores God. Art and music give cohesion to the different traditions on this island.

I praise what the Minister has done in terms of funding and her vision for the arts. It is appropriate because she is the granddaughter of Eamon de Valera, one of the greatest cultural visionaries of all time. His vision for Ireland of comely maidens dancing at the crossroads often drew a smile from many but today there are comely maidens and fine figures of manhood dancing at the crossroads of the world. Irish dancing is now attracting the attention of the arts world.

I appreciate many of the comments made today about my work with Comhaltas Ceoilteoirí Éireann. I enjoyed Senator Brendan Ryan's dissertation and his comments on how the Irish brought talk to a high art form. I hope this House has made its contribution to that art form today.

Question put and agreed to.

An Cathaoirleach

When is it proposed to sit again?

Mr. Mooney

At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.