Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2012
24. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 20,755 persons are directly employed in the Arts sector; his plans to protect these jobs and ensure continued funding for the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53058/12]
View answer44. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total number of persons currently employed directly or indirectly in the Arts sector on either on a whole-time or temporary basis; the extent to which the numbers have fluctuated over the past three years; the extent to which he has examined the potential for the development of future employment opportunities throughout the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52993/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 44 together.
Positioned at the core of local, regional, urban and rural activities, the arts, creative and heritage-related sectors play a pivotal part in the economic life of communities across the country, including the vital area of employment. Employment in the arts sector embraces a very diverse and broad extent of activities, encompassing those engaged in specific arts practice, as well associated wider elements. The arts and culture sectors continue to offer vital opportunities for the provision of important cultural, social and employment benefits to communities throughout the country.
A 2009 by DKM study reported that employment dependent on the arts, culture and creative sectors combined was 170,000, or 8.7% of total employment in the economy. Taking into account economic multipliers, the same study estimated that the value added dependent on the arts, culture and creative sectors was €11.8 billion, or 7.6% of total GNP.
A more recent study by Indecon in 2011 showed that total employment in the wider arts sector, which includes film and video, museums and other cultural activities, literature and publishing, amounted to 21,300 and contributed €716m (GVA) to the economy in 2010. I will continue to work to build on these foundations.
Government policy on the arts is set out in the Programme for Government. As Minister responsible for the arts and culture sectors, I am committed to securing the best possible funding provision for them during my term of office. Government policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, and to maximise the potential for cultural tourism. Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, which, under the Arts Acts, is independent in its funding decisions. In 2012, the Arts Council received an allocation of over €63 million – a curbing of the budgetary decline of previous years.
The Government appreciates the importance of the arts, culture and the creative industries to both our society and to our economy. I am fully aware of the challenges for those involved in the arts and culture sectors and of the tremendous work they are doing. I am committed to supporting the arts and culture sectors within the available financial resources and in the light of the evolving budgetary and Estimates processes. Within the current economic constraints, investment in the arts, culture and creative sectors is more important than ever, having regard too to the employment intensity of the sector.
