Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I am absolutely delighted the Minister of State is here, given that he is a busy man running his own Department. However, it is an absolute insult to this House that no Minister for Health is here. There are four Ministers for Health. There are two at Cabinet, and there are two Ministers of State. This is a very important health motion, and not having one of the Ministers for Health here is disrespectful to the House, insulting to the Members and a waste of Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan's time. While I appreciate him coming in to reply to the matter, he should not have to do that. The Cathaoirleach needs to raise this issue with the Department of Health.
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Health Strategies
We have already raised the matter. My predecessor and I have raised the matter with the Minister-----
I accept that. I have no doubt the Cathaoirleach has, and he might do it again, because this is the second-----
As the Senator is aware, the House has no control over which Minister appears.
This is the second health matter I have raised that has not been addressed by a Minister from the Department of Health. It is a consistent problem with one Department which needs to be dealt with. Here's hoping because I know the powers of persuasion of the Cathaoirleach and his ability to get things done. This issue needs to be sorted.
I am raising the issue of haemochromatosis which affects one in 83 people in Ireland. Furthermore, one in five people is a carrier. Despite this, there is no national screening programme or national strategy. For the people affected, this is a lifelong condition. It is not considered a long-term illness when it comes to payments, long-term illness cards, etc. What is more frustrating than anything else is the fact that there is no consistency between the hospital groups. Some hospital groups do not charge for doing the basic necessary treatments for people with haemochromatosis whereas others do.
To put it in simple English, haemochromatosis is where people have too much iron in their body and a quantity of blood has to be removed to balance the iron. This job should be done by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS, but it is not. I fully accept that, for various reasons, not everyone's blood can be accepted. I believe, however, that the IBTS should cover the cost of this service. We need to make the service universal and uniform. What happens in Dublin should happen in Clare and what happens in Cork should happen in Donegal. There should be no differences. That is what creates inequalities in healthcare.
We urgently need a national strategy to identify and deal with people who have haemochromatosis. We need a five-year plan and also a longer term plan. We need to create equality in access to care. We also need an information campaign. There are thousands of people who have the condition but do not even realise they have it. That is not good enough. We need a national screening programme and national information campaign to identify people with the condition.
Outside of the medical profession and those who suffer from it and their families, haemochromatosis is not a widely known condition but it should be. Every parent and carer should know about it. Some GPs provide supports and services while others do not. There needs to be an engagement with GPs in order to create a database of those who do and do not provide services. We also need to encourage the ones who do not provide the services and supports to do so.
We need three things, a national strategy, a national screening programme and an information campaign.
I welcome the students from St. Benildus College, Stillorgan who are here today as guests of the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Neale Richmond. I also welcome to the Public Gallery guests of Senator Malcolm Byrne, the winners of this year's BT Young Scientist competition from Abbey School in Tipperary, Shane O'Connor and Liam Carew. You are very welcome. Comhghairdeas roimh go léir.
I welcome the students from the Abbey School who have strong Limerick connections through their teacher and principal. I do not think they would have won the competition without that Limerick influence.
Limerick did not do too well last night.
Wait until next week. We will soften your cough.
Senator Conway has made a valid point. We have to move to a position, by agreement with the Chief Whip or the Government, where there are thematic days in the Seanad, almost like oral questions in the other House, where Senators, with the Cathaoirleach's consent, can raise issues with notice and the Minister with responsibility turns up. Otherwise, it is just me reading a script I received five minutes ago, which is not just disrespectful to the patients Senator Conway referred to but totally out of order.
As the Minister of State knows, it is not as easy as having thematic days because there is-----
I speak as somebody who represents a constituency where people are suffering from haemochromatosis. They would not like to think that someone is just handed a script and told to read it out, which is exactly what I am about to do.
I thank Senator Conway for raising this issue. Haemochromatosis is a hereditary condition, in which excessive amounts of iron are absorbed from the diet. This iron is deposited in various organs, mainly in the liver, but also in the pancreas, heart, pituitary and joints. Symptoms are often non-specific, fatigue, joint pain and others. Symptoms such as liver disease and diabetes, if left untreated, can be fatal. Hereditary haemochromatosis is common in Ireland. A 2015 HSE model of care review into the condition found that one in 83 Irish people carry two copies of the HFE gene, which is responsible for haemochromatosis. These people are predisposed to develop iron overload.
The treatment for the management of hereditary haemochromatosis is therapeutic services, which involves patients having their blood taken. This can happen in several settings including hospitals. The Department of Health and HSE agree that such services should be provided at the lowest level of complexity that is clinically and operationally feasible. By moving to community based treatment, it allows necessary flexibility for patients who require life-long care, eases additional costs and allows access to treatment at suitable times. Measures introduced in recent years have positively impacted treatment for hereditary haemochromatosis patients.
In 2019, agreement was reached with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, on a major package of GP contractual reforms and service developments. These benefit patients and GPs, who now provide services for General Medical Services, GMS, patients with haemochromatosis. This means eligible patients can be now managed locally. In 2022, 845 GPs provided 6,864 therapeutic services to GMS patients. This service has improved patient experience as patients no longer have to travel to secondary care hospitals for treatment. As announced in budget 2023, GP visit card eligibility is to be extended to those who earn the median household income or less. This will provide more treatment options for those patients who qualify under this expansion.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service also accepts hereditary haemochromatosis patients who are eligible to donate blood at fixed and mobile donation clinics nationwide. Patients can attend, free of charge, a maximum of four times a year with a minimum of 90 days between them. Eligible patients continue to have their hereditary haemochromatosis managed by their physician. The Minister is aware that for many patients, treatment is still provided in hospital as an outpatient or day case. The Health (Amendment) Act 2023, which came into effect yesterday, 17 April, removes the acute public inpatient charge of €80 per day for people. This further benefits those hereditary haemochromatosis patients who attend hospital for their treatment.
It is important to be aware that any decisions about changes to our national screening programmes, or the introduction of new programmes, such as screening for genetic haemochromatosis, will be made on the advice of our national screening advisory committee.
I thank the Minister of State for reading the reply into the record. Like me, he has constituents with haemochromatosis. He understands the importance of raising this matter. I understand that things have to be done on the advice of the national screening programme. However, the question needs to be put. To try to elicit a more comprehensive response and engagement I will request that Fine Gael private Members' time be used to raise this issue as a motion to see if we can bring a Minister for Health into the House to have a proper engagement on the issue. I repeat my three asks. The first is for a national strategy, which I do not think is too much to ask for, along with a point of contact and engagement in the Department of Health for organisations representing people with haemochromatosis. The second ask is for a national screening programme, which would be good for people's health. If something is identified it can be treated and there can be interventions to support it. Third, there needs to be equality in terms of the cost. I agree the changes in the budget have gone some way towards that. Finally, there needs to be a national information campaign so people are made aware that this condition exists and they may have it.
Senator Conway raises valid points. This is a condition that affects a lot of people throughout the country. We all know people affected by it, how it interrupts their lives, the impact it has on their weekly and daily routines, and the difficulty some people have accessing remote services, particularly in rural areas. I will relay the Senator's points to the relevant Minister. If Senator Conway believes it would be appropriate to use private Members' time to address the issue further, that would be an opportunity to flesh it out.
Defence Forces
I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this topic. I thank the Minister of State for being here, although I note from what he said earlier that he would rather not be here delivering responses from other Ministers. I can only assume, therefore, that he will always be here to answer those questions relating to his own Department.
As many Members of this House and of the Dáil will be aware, I am very proud of being from County Kildare. The defence community is hugely important to Kildare and supporting the Defence Forces is a key priority of mine. I have always done what I can from within these Houses to advocate and speak on behalf of our Defence Forces heroes. I have stood up and spoken about many of the different issues that impact on those who work within our Defence Forces, such as the need for cultural transformation, the deplorable pay levels some are supposed to work for, the lack of investment and, of course, the recruitment and retention issues faced by the Defence Forces every day.
Many people I represent and many of those in south Kildare are very happy and honoured to be members of the Defence Forces. Many have found the life quite difficult, however. It is, therefore, important to build morale and deal with the big issues. I genuinely believe that with An Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, as Minister for Defence and following the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, we are starting to finally get the big things right. However, sometimes it is the smallest of issues that can grate with people and damage morale in a workplace.
I come from Rathangan and live in Newbridge. The Newbridge area does not have a public swimming pool. At one point, it did have a small open-air pool in Ryston, which is long gone. People have to travel to Athy or Naas to go to a public swimming pool. Those who had a connection with the Curragh Camp, essentially by being a member of a military family, as well as local schools and clubs, had the opportunity to use the Curragh swimming pool. It is an absolutely fabulous pool. I have never had the opportunity to swim in it but I have often seen it. This facility has been there since the early 1900s. The British built it in order that soldiers could cool off during hot summers in the Curragh. In the 1940s, the Irish Army put a roof over it and then brought in a heating system. I understand that the last investment was approximately 20 years ago. Approximately €2 million of taxpayers' money was put into the Curragh swimming pool. It was very difficult to get access to go in but for those who could, it was really important.
Obviously, I understand that during Covid-19, outside access closed down. It has never reopened, however. Basically, the world has moved on since Covid but the Curragh swimming pool has not. I have been contacted by a number of people in this regard. One particular lady is the daughter of a former Army officer, now sadly deceased, and the wife of a current serving member. Having paid for this service, because an amount has to be paid by non-serving members, she still has no clarity in terms of when the swimming pool will open. I have been in contact with the Department of Defence offices in Newbridge. All I keep getting back, as do any of the individuals who have written, is that this is the subject of negotiation with the Minister and the Department of Defence. When will we see a situation when the Curragh swimming pool is going to reopen to those who could use it in the past, such as in pre-Covid times?
I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I always try to attend the Seanad. I very rarely do not attend the Seanad for issues of my own and if I cannot, I always ask Senators to perhaps defer it to a time when I can attend. Anyway, I have made my remarks with regard to the rest.
I have been asked by An Tánaiste to thank the Senator for raising this issue this morning and to apologise that he could not be here, given the other business requirements he is attending to at Cabinet. For those who may not be aware, the main training centre for the Defence Forces is more commonly known as the Curragh Camp.
The installation is of significant historical interest not just for the local community but also for the nation as a whole, given its role as a military installation since before the foundation of the State.
In recognising its importance, the renovation and ongoing development of the camp is one of the mainstays in the Defence Forces' infrastructure plan. We are making significant strides towards improving the Defence Forces' built infrastructure, including accommodation facilities for our personnel. This year alone, we will be providing some €55 million for improving our built infrastructure - a record allocation that will increase in the years ahead to match the roll-out of new projects.
Projects collectively worth over €100 million are currently under way and are at different stages of development. Regarding the Curragh Camp, notable projects to be developed in the coming months include a new cadet school, a new engineering store, new garaging facilities and a communications and information services workshop. All are scheduled to commence in the coming months. In 2024, the following projects will also commence: new Army Ranger Wing headquarters; and a new military college auditorium suite.
Since the establishment of the Defence Forces, it has been long-standing practice to allow sports organisations, schools and local community groups access to military lands. This policy reflects the importance of the Defence Forces being front and centre within the communities they serve. This is a proud tradition that has served both the Defence Forces and generations within communities in good stead. I am happy to say it is intended that this practice will continue. The Tánaiste's Department received numerous requests for the use of all Defence Forces' facilities throughout the country and always endeavours to process any application for use in a fair, equitable and community-centred fashion.
In respect of the reopening of the swimming pool at the Defence Forces' training camp, the pool is currently in use for operational requirements by the military. There are currently safety concerns in relation to the reopening of the swimming pool to the public, particularly in the context of child safety concerns. I am sure the Senator will appreciate that these safety concerns take precedence and need to be resolved before the swimming pool can be reopened to the public. To that end, the Tánaiste has been advised that the matter is under consideration within the Defence Forces, and it is intended that a report will be submitted to the Department shortly.
I recognise the important strides the Minister of State talked about regarding the built infrastructure of the Defence Forces and some of the areas he has mentioned. Significantly, the €55 million to improve built infrastructure is incredibly important. The infrastructure will include the new cadet school, new engineering stores, the garaging facilities and, next year, the Army Ranger Wing headquarters and the military college auditorium suite. However, I want to focus on what the Minister of State said about circumstances since the establishment of the Defence Forces. He referred to the long-standing practice of granting access to local sports organisations, schools and local community groups. This is very important. It is partly why Kildare people are so proud to have the Defence Forces and Curragh Camp in their county. The tradition has served members of the Defence Forces and the communities very well. I want to see the practice continuing.
I note what the Minister of State said about current safety concerns regarding the pool. I would like a little more clarity on that. I would like the Minister of State to relay my points to the Minister. The Minister of State said the matter is under consideration and that a report will be submitted to the Department. I hope that, in a supplementary response, he will be able to give a timeline for this because it is a really important issue.
Unfortunately, I do not have any timeline for completion. I can relay the Senator's issues and concerns regarding safety to the Tánaiste and ask that his Department revert directly to her. I can understand her point because there is a similar situation with another pool owned by a different element of the State. It is also of importance to its local community. I will certainly relay the Senator's comments to the Tánaiste and ask that he reply to her directly.
Irish Language
I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this matter for debate. I submitted it before the Easter break because it had emerged at that time.
I welcome the Minister of State. As he is aware, a suggested draft primary school curriculum framework with subject teaching times was published by the Minister for Education in early March. This has caused some concern among some in my community, Gaeltacht communities and those within the Irish language community. There is significant concern over the reduction in the status of the teaching and learning of Irish in primary schools, according to Ms Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin, the CEO of Gaeloideachas.
Teaching time for Irish is to be reduced by 30 minutes per week in English-medium schools, and although the draft framework maintains it is at the teacher's discretion to add additional time as part of the flexible time on the curriculum, we all know this is hugely dependent on the teacher's ability, confidence and attitude towards Irish. The research shows that, as we all know, Irish is not a preferred subject of primary school teachers in English-speaking schools. There are some who would like an even greater reduction and some who possibly would like to get rid of it altogether, whereas Irish is among the favourite subjects of students in Irish-speaking schools, which confirms there is a positive link between the contact time spent with the language and positive attitudes towards it. While changes to the curriculum promote a third language at primary level, why did the Department of Education decide to reduce the time allocated to teaching Irish? Surely, it could have maintained, at the very least, the three and a half hours per week, perhaps reducing the flexible time schools have, rather than targeting Irish. The 20-year strategy has been supported and has been the foundation stone of Government policy regarding the Irish language for more than a decade. I believe the suggested policy change goes totally against the 20-year strategy.
Tugadh isteach an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge le tacaíocht traspháirtí i mí na Nollaig 2010. Is é príomhchuspóir na straitéise ná go mbeidh sé polasaí ag an Rialtas i leith na Gaeilge chun úsáid agus eolas maidir leis an nGaeilge mar theanga phobail a mhéadú ar bhonn incriminteach. Go sonrach, is é aidhm an Rialtais é ná a chinntiú go bhfuil an oiread saoránach agus is féidir dátheangach, i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla araon. Is é an t-oideachas an chéad cheann de naoi réimse gnímh sa straitéis a chlúdaíonn oideachas laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Is é fírinne an scéil nach bhfuil an curaclam bunscoile nua atá beartaithe ag teacht leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Ní féidir le Rialtas polasaí nua a thabhairt isteach a thagann salach ar pholasaí eile atá ann cheana féin. Bhí mé i m’Aire Stáit nuair a tugadh isteach an chéad straitéis oideachais Ghaeltachta agus an scéim aitheantais do scoileanna Gaeltachta. Mhéadaigh mé an maoiniú do mhná tí, do chláir ar nós teanga tí chun tacú le teaghlaigh ar fud na tíre a raibh an Ghaeilge mar theanga an tí, agus cláir eile ar nós leo siúd, ó Chonradh na Gaeilge. Tá an cinneadh gur chóir laghdú ar theagasc na Gaeilge mícheart agus níor cheart dul ar aghaidh leis.
The basis of this Commencement matter is that the Department has introduced a policy decision regarding the Irish language within the education system that goes totally against the 20-year strategy for the Irish language. It would be a retrograde step and there are other ways to ensure the time spent on Irish is maintained, notwithstanding the flexibility teachers are being given to make up lost time. I think that is based, as others commented, on teachers' ability and interest in the language.
I welcome Dr. Ann Marcus-Quinn from the University of Limerick, who is in the House with Senator Maria Byrne. I am sure the Minister of State and Members of the House would like to wish her an enjoyable day in Leinster House. I hope she gets a lot out of it.
Tá an freagra seo tugtha agam ón Aire Oideachais agus caithfidh mé an freagra sin a thabhairt, ach tá suim agam san ábhar seo mar is mise an tAire na Gaeilge agus na Gaelainne. Bhí mé ag éisteacht go dian leis na rudaí atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Kyne. Beidh a fhios ag an Seanadóir go dtacaíonn creatchuraclam na bunscoile le forbairt churaclam bunscoile a thógann ar rathúlacht agus ar láidreachtaí na gcuraclam roimhe seo agus, ag an am céanna, ag aithint agus ag freagairt do dhúshláin, riachtanais athraitheacha agus tosaíochtaí laistigh dár scoileanna. D'fhorbair an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta creatchuraclam na bunscoile thar thréimhse shé bliana agus cuimsíonn sé tarraingt ar chorpas fairsing taighde náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta; obair le líonra de 60 scoil; dlúthobair le comhpháirtithe oideachais agus páirtithe leasmhara níos leithne agus fairsinge agus comhairliúchán. Cuirtear an creat comhairliúcháin eile san áireamh freisin, lena n-áirítear iad siúd ar struchtúr curaclaim agus am agus teanga.
Cosúil le curaclam na bunscoile 1999, soláthraíonn creatchuraclam na bunscoile leithdháiltí íosta ama molta ar bhonn seachtainiúil agus míosúil do gach achar curaclaim, lena n-áirítear teangacha. Níl na hamanna seo éigeantach agus tá siad faoi réir sainriachtanais rang-ghrúpa ar leith agus saineolas gairmiúil na múinteoirí.
As the Senator will know, the primary curriculum framework provides an increase in the weekly time allocation for well-being. It also provides an hour per week for the introduction of foreign languages from third class onwards.
In Irish-medium schools the curriculum is accessed through the medium of Irish, apart from the English-language curriculum. In Irish-medium schools the introduction of formal English language can be delayed until first-class support and acquisition of the Irish language. As for the reduction in the language, one considers the children's experience of language learning during the two free preschool years as part of the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme, and recent figures indicate that approximately 97% of children avail of the programme.
It should be further noted that the primary language curriculum, curaclam teanga na bunscoile, introduced to all primary classes in 2019, is an integrated language curriculum which draws on the research and supports the transfer of skill from one language to the next through its shared structure and supportive approaches to learning and teaching.
I also note that the primary curriculum framework presents time allocations in two categories, namely, minimum curriculum time and flexible time. Flexible time provides schools with the opportunity to use this time for extended periods of in-depth learning in one or more of the five curriculum languages, including the area of languages.
The Department is committed to a wide range of actions to support the 20-year strategy, as Senator Kyne said, under a number of areas, including education in the Gaeltacht, partial immersion, curriculum assessment, teacher training, development and provision of resources, school provision and supply of teachers for Irish-medium education, out-of-school use of Irish, early-years education, higher education, advanced Irish language skills and third level.
Building on the successes of the Gaeltacht education policy, the Department is currently developing a new policy for Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht. A public consultation was recently concluded and further engagement with the stakeholders, including focus groups, is under way. This work will inform the policy. The Department announced recently the approval of 610 places on the primary initial teacher education programmes for two years, of which 30 are educational places in the bachelor of education, BEd, through the medium of Irish in 2023, making a total of 60 places in 2023.
Finally, the Department's content and language integrated learning, CLIL, project provides the opportunity for children in English-medium early language and care settings, primary and post-primary, to experience and benefit from partial immersion in Irish in order to improve learner confidence and disposition to Irish.
Mar a luaigh an tAire Stáit ansin, luaigh an Roinn Oideachais go raibh polasaí nua á fhorbairt ag an Roinn don Ghaeloideachas taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht faoi láthair. Cuirim fáilte roimhe sin ach, mar sin, cén fáth go bhfuiltear ag déanamh go bhfuil an Roinn Oideachais ag déanamh cinnidh mhóir laghdú a dhéanamh ar an nGaeilge sna bunscoileanna, nuair atá an polasaí nua seo á fhorbairt agus an próiseas comhairliúcháin ag dul ar aghaidh faoi láthair? Ní dhéanann sé sin aon chiall. Ba cheart go mbeadh an cinneadh faoin churaclam nua tugtha mar gheall ar an bpróiseas comhairliúcháin nó i ndiaidh an phróisis comhairliúcháin atá á dhéanamh ag an Roinn faoi láthair. Ní aontaím gurb é seo an cinneadh ceart. Ní thacaíonn sé leis an nGaeilge ar chor ar bith. Tá sé ag dul in aghaidh Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge.
Roimh an díospóireacht sin, d’iarr mé ar na hoifigigh i mo Roinn dul i dteagmháil leis an Roinn Oideachais chun an t-ábhar sin a phlé, mar tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an rud sin ag cur isteach go mór ar na tuismitheoirí agus na daltaí agus tá cuid de na ceisteanna ó thuismitheoirí, mhúinteoirí agus dhaltaí atá ag teacht isteach chuig mo Roinn.
I am engaging on this issue with the Minister, Deputy Foley, through my officials. There are obvious concerns around the issue Senator Kyne raised. Táimid go léir ag déanamh ár ndícheall chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. We must look at how the Irish language is taught. It is not just about the amount of time used in the classroom but also the need to examine in a fairly dispassionate, upfront and forthright way how it is taught and why it is that, after 14 years, most of us have difficulty with the language. As Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I have the same difficulty. Tá an muinín beagnach caillte ag cuid mhór de na daoine atá tar éis teacht tríd an bpróiseas oideachais in Éirinn, ach when they go to France, after five years of learning French, they can have a comhrá i bhFraincis. We have a problem and we cannot address it just through shrinking the amount of time given to the teaching of the language. We need a proper discussion around an méid go léir maidir le múineadh na Gaeilge, sa bhunscoil go háirithe. Beidh mo Roinn ag glacadh páirt sa díospóireacht agus sa chomhrá sin.
I thank the Minister of State for giving his time to deal with Commencement matters that are not necessarily under his brief. It is much appreciated by Members.
I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, who is taking the final Commencement matter.
Departmental Strategies
The Irish Government and the Finnish Government have something in common. In recent years, both have made a commitment to publish a plan for the creative industries in their countries. The only difference is that the Finnish Government has completed its plan. Why has the Government not produced a plan for the creative and cultural industries in Ireland? Such a plan for the creative industries was promised in the programme for Government. According to the Creative Ireland website, more than 100 meetings were held with academics, EU officials, industry representatives and small businesses, 120 people took part in three large workshops and there was a survey of more than 150 people from design businesses. If the Government sits on its hands any longer, all of this work will be lost.
The creative economy is one of the world's fastest growing sectors, with up to one in 20 jobs in some EU countries being in these industries. In some cities around Europe, one in ten jobs is in the creative and cultural industries. That is the kind of potential that exists in the regions of this country. If the Government does not prioritise this sector, Sinn Féin will do so. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, must up their game. Key agencies like Enterprise Ireland, the local enterprise offices, LEOs, and Design and Crafts Council Ireland need to be ambitious and they must be included in this plan. My only request today, which I made before in 2021 and again in 2022, is to ask when this roadmap, as promised in the programme for Government, will finally be published and brought to the Cabinet.
I thank Senator Warfield for raising this matter. I assure him the roadmap is being prepared and co-ordinated by our colleagues in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and will include inputs from my Department, Enterprise Ireland and Design and Crafts Council Ireland. The Senator referred to the extensive consultations that have taken place, and continue to take place, on reaching consensus on a series of action plans or recommendations that will ultimately form the basis for implementation of the roadmap.
I understand the roadmap for digital creative industries will be published this summer. I will revert to the Senator with a detailed update on that. Its goal is to set out a framework through which Departments and enterprise agencies can collaborate with digital creative industries in a concerted and integrated way in the future. This approach is identical to that taken with the film tax credit and the audiovisual action plan, which realised substantial investment in and success for the Irish audiovisual sector. As I said, consultations between my Department and our agencies will result in an agreed set of actions as part of the implementation of the roadmap.
This will ensure the relevant Government Departments can support the digital creative enterprises in a more cohesive and effective manner.
As Senator Warfield has said, Enterprise Ireland and the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, DCCI, already actively work with client companies in the digital creative industry space. Many of these companies have benefited from the full range of Enterprise Ireland and Design and Crafts Council of Ireland supports, including sales and digital marketing funding, strategic market review grants, digital marketing capability funding and market discovery funding. For instance, the DCCI is centrally involved in the development of programmes promoting design-driven innovation, such as Design Week and the very successful Irish Business Design Challenge, IDBC. The DCCI has recently established a design academy to provide practical, blended and online learning solutions for the craft and design community in Ireland and internationally.
The digital creative industries roadmap consultations, to which Senator Warfield referred, have highlighted an interest across the sector for early-stage start-up support. This year, Enterprise Ireland has launched a refreshed pre-seed support to help companies beginning that enterprise journey. Applicants can apply for €50,000 or €100,000 in investment. Therefore, EI is also actively working with clients in the digital creative industries, such as the animation and gaming companies, to develop and scale in addition to supporting these companies to enter new international markets. I had the pleasure of visiting the new centre in Sligo, which will be dedicated to digital gaming in particular. It is funded through my Department’s regional enterprise programme.
There are opportunities to increase company engagement and awareness of our extensive existing supports among digital creative enterprises. Enterprise Ireland’s client solutions hub provides insight, information and events on practical support for all small- and medium-sized businesses, SMEs. Certainly, I am open to the Senator’s suggestions and inputs as to how we can create further links between Enterprise Ireland and the digital creative industry.
In summary, we are actively working in co-ordination with colleagues in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to finalise the roadmap itself. That roadmap will create a more solid infrastructure to enhance opportunities for enterprises that are involved in the digital creative industries. However, alongside this work, there are active supports available. I am more than happy to work with the Senator to further increase the knowledge of those supports and to tie those supports into further companies in this space.
I thank the Minister of State for his response, and I welcome the fact that it will be published this summer. I encourage the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to take ownership and to show an interest from the side of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is part of the implementation group, alongside the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin’s, Department. I therefore encourage the Minister and Minister of State to show an interest and to be ambitious.
I also want to acknowledge that there is a lack of research, which is something the roadmap could address. There is a lack of research and data on our creative and cultural industries. I refer to the European Commission documents, and in the most recent 2019 document, Ireland’s data often come from 2010. That is nine years out of date. We need to understand the value of our culture and creativity, and we need to take it seriously enough to track it on an ongoing basis. On the definition of the roadmap, in future, when we get this roadmap over the line, I would welcome having one for the cultural industries, for example, the music industry, festival companies, the work of artists, commercial galleries and publishers.
The final thing I will say, which is completely unrelated to this Commencement matter, is that we still do not have a digital legal deposit. It is the responsibility of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to archive the .ie domain so we do not lose our nation’s memory from the web.
I thank the Senator.
It is disappearing every day. We have legal responsibilities to archive every piece of printed material, but we lose digital online archive information every day as we are not archiving it.
I thank the Senator and call the Minister of State.
As I indicated, we are currently focused on agreeing the actions that will form the roadmap.
We are working very closely with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and the Media. I have outlined our commitment to the digital space and those in the augmented reality, AR, and virtual reality, VR, animation and games development. There is huge potential there. I will keep the Senator informed. I know he has raised the .ie domain with me previously. I will get an update for the Senator and get back to him on that.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 1.15 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 1.30 p.m.
Sitting suspended at 1.15 p.m. and resumed at 1.30 p.m.