Priority Questions
1. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael P. Kitt den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé mhéad cruinniú den Fhochoiste Rialtais a bhí ann ó ceapadh an Rialtas agus dátaí na gcruinnithe; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [13146/13]
View answerDála an scéil, tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil an chéad cheist tosaíochta inniu as Gaeilge. Sílim go bhfuil sin an-oiriúnach ar fad agus molaim an Teachta as an cheist sin a chur. Tá súil agam go mbeidh sé sásta leis an bhfreagra.
Déanann an Coiste Rialtais ar an Ghaeilge agus ar an Ghaeltacht, a bhfuil an Taoiseach ina chathaoirleach air, maoirseacht ar bhonn leanúnach ar an dul chun cinn maidir le forfheidhmiú na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge.
Ón uair gur tháinig an Rialtas seo i gcumhacht, tionóladh cúig chruinniú den choiste Rialtais áirithe seo ar na dátaí seo a leanas: 14 Aibreán 2011; 19 Bealtaine 2011; 5 Meitheamh 2012; 19 Iúil 2012; agus 5 Samhain 2012. Tá sé beartaithe an chéad chruinniú eile den choiste Rialtais áirithe seo a thionól go han-luath, an chéad seachtain de mhí Aibreáin.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an bhfreagra sin. Cuirim fáilte roimh an eolas, ach tá súil agam go mbeidh níos mó cruinnithe ag an gcoiste. Bhí an tAire Stáit ag caint ar "Prime Time" aréir mar gheall ar thábhacht an choiste seo agus an Taoiseach mar chathaoirleach air, ach an bhfuil aon rud déanta ag an Aire Stáit nó ag an Rialtas mar gheall ar an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge? Tá alt in The Irish Times inniu a thosaíonn leis na focail seo "Cúrsaí teanga ag dul in olcas de réir na tuarascála is déanaí ón Choimisinéir Teanga." Céard atá le rá ag an Aire Stáit maidir le dul chun cinn na straitéise 20 bliain i ndiaidh na tuarascála sin ón Choimisinéir Teanga?
Ar dtús, fáiltím i gcónaí roimh moltaí dearfa, constructive, ón Choimisinéir Teanga. Táimid anseo chun éisteacht le daoine mar sin, má tá rudaí deimhneacha le rá acu.
Maidir leis an straitéis 20 bliain, diúltaím go huile agus go hiomlán an chaint atá ag dul ar aghaidh nach bhfuil dul chun cinn á dhéanamh ar An Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge.
Níl.
Tá dul chun cinn mór déanta ar an straitéis 20 bliain. An chéad rud a rinne muid, mar a dúradh sa bhfreagra a thug mé don Teachta, ná go bhfuil an fochoiste Rialtais againn a thagann le chéile agus a bheidh ag teacht le chéile chun monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar an straitéis 20 bliain. Freisin, tá sé mar phríomh cuspóir i gclár an Rialtais an straitéis 20 bliain a chur i bhfeidhm.
Chomh maith le seo, tá Acht Gaeltachta tugtha isteach a chuireann lenár gcumas agus a thugann bunús reachtaíochta don straitéis 20 bliain. Mar shampla, anois tá sé mar dhualgas agus mar fhreagracht ar Údarás na Gaeltachta an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm sna ceantair Gaeltachta agus táthar ag tosú ar an obair sin i láthair na huaire. Tá siad ag dul amach go dtí na ceantair ar fud na Gaeltachtaí agus ag tabhairt deise dóibh a gcuid pleananna teanga a dhéanamh amach.
Chomh maith le sin, tá sé mar fhreagracht ar Fhoras na Gaeilge an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm sa chuid eile den tír. Táimid ag díriú isteach anois ar theallaigh agus ar an chaint, an chanúint agus an teanga fhéin. Mar adúirt mé, tá freagracht bhreise ar Údarás na Gaeltachta. Ní hamháin go bhfuil cúraimí fiontraíochta orthu, ach tá cúraimí teanga agus cultúr orthu chomh maith. Tá siad chun iad sin a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach. Tá coiste nó bord úr ar an údarás agus tá an-mhuinín, an-dóchas agus an-mhisneach agam go ndéanfaidh siad an jab sin go héifeachtach, go cuimsitheach agus go hiomlán.
Tugann an Coimisinéir Teanga tuarisc faoi fhear óg a bhí ag iarraidh gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge nuair a stopadh é maidir le mion-choir tráchta. Tá eolas ar an scéal ag an Aire Stáit cheana. Le linn na bliana 2012 - ní sár-bhliain a bhí ann don Ghaeilge de réir an Choimisinéara - bhí 756 cás ag an gCoimisinéir mar gheall ar deacrachtaí nó fadhbanna le seirbhísí Stáit a fháil trí Ghaeilge. Céard a dhéanfaidh an tAire Stáit faoi na fadhbanna seo?
Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh an bhreis agus 700 gearán a bheith déanta leis an gcoimisinéir, mar léiríonn sin domsa mar Aire Stáit go bhfuil pobal amuigh ansin atá ag éileamh seirbhísí ón Stát trí Ghaeilge agus má tá gearán acu, go ndéanann siad leis an gCoimisinéir Teanga é. Sin an fáth go bhfuil Coimisinéir Teanga ann agus sin an fáth go mbeidh an Coimisinéir lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht. Sin an fáth go mbeidh tacaíocht iomlán ag an gCoimisinéir Teanga agus é ag déanamh fiosruithe ar 13 de na gearáin seo.
Tá gearán amháin go bhfuil comhartha ceiste agam maidir leis - a serious question mark - nach raibh garda ábalta an cheist "Cad is ainm duit?" a chur ar dhuine éigin. Ní shílim go bhfuil aon gharda sa tír seo nach mbeadh ábalta an cheist sin a chur ar an Teachta, ná ormsa ná ar an Aire nó ar an Chathaoirleach. Ní shílim go bhfuil mórán garda sa tír nach mbeadh ábalta a rá "Is garda mise agus seo é m'ainm." Sílim go bhfuil scéal ansin nár chuala muid go fóill. Tá ceisteanna le cur nach bhfuil freagartha go fóill.
2. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil aon phlé déanta aige leis an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna maidir leis an tionchar a bheidh ar thionscal na gColáistí Samhraidh agus ar ioncam na mban tí sna ceantair Ghaeltachta mar gheall ar an ngearradh sa deontas d’ábhair oidí le freastal ar chúrsaí Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [13145/13]
View answerI dtosach báire, ba mhaith liom a rá go dtagann na cúinsí a bhaineann le hoiliúint ábhar oidí faoin Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna. Mar is eol don Teachta, thóg an Roinn sin cinneadh deireadh a chur leis an deontas d'ábhair oidí don tréimhse éigeantach a chaitear sa Ghaeltacht ón bhliain acadúil 2012 go 2013 ar aghaidh. Ina theannta sin, tá sé i gceist go mbeidh na hábhair oidí ag caitheamh dhá thréimhse coicíse um Cháisc sa Ghaeltacht feasta in áit trí seachtaine le linn an tsamhraidh, mar a bhíodh go dtí seo. Is dul chun cinn é sin i mo thuairim.
Bhí go leor plé ag mo Roinn leis na páirtithe leasmhara maidir leis na hathruithe seo. Mar chuid den phlé sin, eagraíodh cruinniú ar na mallaibh faoi chathaoirleacht mo Roinnse ar a d'fhreastail ionadaithe ón Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna ó na coláistí oideachais agus ó Chomhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh, nó CONCOS mar a thugtar air. Rinneadh scrúdú ar na himpleachtaí ar fad maidir leis na hathruithe atá i gceist ar mhaithe le bailchríoch a chur leis na socruithe sa Ghaeltacht. Tá cruinniú eile beartaithe nuair a bheidh cúrsaí na Cásca críochnaithe i mbliana agus nuair a bheidh an pictiúr níos soiléire maidir leis na hathruithe atá i gceist.
Ar ndóigh, is cuid lárnach den chéim B.Oid. í an tréimhse a chaitear sa Ghaeltacht agus tuigim go bhfuil freastal ar na cúrsaí sin éigeantach chun cáiliú mar mhúinteoir bunoideachais. Is féidir liom a rá go bhfuil méadú tagtha ar líon na gcoláistí Gaeilge a bhfuil iarratas ar aitheantas déanta acu ar mo Roinn chun cúrsaí a sholáthar d'ábhair oidí, cé nach bhfuil figiúirí ar fáil fós don líon ábhar oidí atá cláraithe ar na cúrsaí sin um Cháisc i mbliana.
Dúirt an tAire Stáit aréir go bhfuil an Rialtas ag cur an straitéis 20 bliain i bhfeidhm. Caithfidh mé a rá, i ndáiríre, nach bhfuil sa ráiteas sin ach praiseach amach is amach. Ní chreideann éinne ar an taobh seo go bhfuil an Rialtas ag cur an straitéis 20 bliain i bhfeidhm i ndáiríre. Níl aon cheann de na heagraíochtaí Gaeilge lánsásta - ainmnigh eagraíocht amháin atá sásta - leis an méid atá an Rialtas ag déanamh chun an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá formhór acu ag rá go bhfuil an Rialtas ag déanamh damáiste don straitéis. Tá siad glan in éadan na slí ina bhfuil an Rialtas agus an Roinn ag feidhmiú. Leis an fhírinne a rá, tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil an tAire Stáit sásta leis ach oiread. Tá mé lánchinnte go bhfuil a fhios aige ina chroí go bhfuil an Roinn ag dul in éadan na straitéise.
Is féidir na hábhair oidí seo a thógáil mar shampla. Freastalaíonn na hoidí ar an nGaeltacht chun a gcuid Gaeilge a fheabhsú, de ghnáth. San aimsir atá caite, bhí maoiniú ann le haghaidh na socruithe seo. Rinne an Rialtas cinneadh fáil réidh leis na deontais seo. Tá sé seo díreach in aghaidh na straitéise, a deireann go gcaithfidh na hábhair oidí níos mó ama a chaitheamh sa Ghaeltacht chun feabhas a chur ar a gcuid Gaeilge. De réir an Teaching Council agus grúpaí eile, caithfear feabhas a chur ar chaighdeán na n-ábhair oidí. Conas a bhfuil an tAire Stáit in ann a rá go bhfuil an straitéis 20 bliain á chur i bhfeidhm nuair atá a mhalairt de bharúil ag gach eagraíocht eile ar an oileán seo? Is sampla díreach é seo den chaoi ina bhfuil an Rialtas ag dul in aghaidh na straitéise.
Táimid ag díriú isteach ar chúrsaí oideachais nach mbaineann go hiomlán liom ach mar sin féin go bhfuil suim agam iontu. Caithfidh na hábhair mhúinteoirí dhá thréimhse coicíse - mí iomlán ar fad - a chaitheamh sa Ghaeltacht i rith na Cásca. Sílim gur dul chun cinn mór é sin. Tuigeann an Rialtas go gcaithfear feabhas a chur ar chaighdeán na Gaeilge chomh fada agus a bhaineann sé leis na hábhair mhúinteoirí. Tá ceisteanna airgid ann chomh maith i gcomhthéacs an géarchéim eacnamaíochta, ach sin scéal eile. Tá an straitéis 20 bliain á chur i bhfeidhm againn.
Ní chreidim é sin.
Is féidir liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go bhfuil réabhlóid ag tarlú i gcúrsaí oideachais trí Ghaeilge i láthair na huaire. Tá curaclam agus siollabas úr Gaeilge á gcur ar fáil do bhunoideachas na tíre seo. Tá sé sin ag teacht isteach láithreach. Lena chois sin, cuirfear siollabas úr Gaeilge ar fáil go dtí leibhéal na hardteistiméireachta. Don chéad uair ó bunaíodh an Stát, beidh monatóireacht leanúnach á dhéanamh ar chaighdeán Gaeilge na ndaltaí bunscoile agus iarbhunscoile chun caighdeán náisiúnta a bhaint amach. Tá méadú mór, go dtí 40%, ag teacht ar líon na marcanna a thugtar do labhairt na Gaeilge san ardteist. Tá sé mar pholasaí ag an Rialtas é a mhéadú go dtí 50% más féidir agus má oireann sé sin nuair a bheidh anailís déanta ar an tionchar a bheidh ag an leibhéal 40%. Tá na rudaí seo ag tarlú i Roinn eile - an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna - nach bhfuil aon bhaint agam leis. Tá go leor ag tarlú i mo Roinn féin. Táimid ag tabhairt comhairle agus tacaíocht do theaghlaigh a thoilíonn a gclann a thógáil le Gaeilge. Tá 700 pacáiste curtha ar fáil ó tugadh isteach an scéim. Tá na campaí samhraidh againn. Tá na naíonraí againn. Tá na cúntóirí teanga againn. Tá na coláistí Gaeilge againn. Is páirt den straitéis 20 bliain iad sin ar fad.
Tá an t-am don cheist seo caite.
I ndáiríre-----
Tá sé thart.
Caithfidh mé ceist eile a chur.
Ceadóidh mé ceist an-ghairid.
Tá 25% de mhuintir na hÉireann ag iarraidh a gcuid páistí a chur chuig scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge, ach tá níos lú ná 5% ag fáil gaelscolaíocht dá bpáistí. Ní réabhlóid é seo ar chor ar bith. Níl ach trí nó ceithre leabhar sa phacáiste teaghlaigh. Nuair a fuair mé an pacáiste, bhí náire orm i dtaobh an méid a bhí ann.
Caithfidh an Teachta ceist a chur.
Tá an gearradh siar atá á phlé againn chun damáiste a dhéanamh do gheilleagar na Gaeltachta. Tá an tAire Stáit freagrach as sin. Ní bheidh ábhar oidí in ann dul go dtí an Ghaeltacht os rud é nach mbeidh an t-airgead acu. Beidh daoine ón ísealaicme ag fulaingt dá bharr. Ní rachfaidh an t-airgead isteach go dtí na Gaeltachtaí. Cad a dhéanfaidh an Rialtas faoi sin?
Tuigim go mbeidh cúnamh ar fáil do dhaoine ar ioncaim íseal atá cáilithe faoin scéim um tháillí saor in aisce. Is féidir leo siúd a fhaigheann táillí saor faoi láthair iarratas a chur isteach chuig SUSI i leith costais taistil agus iostais le uasmhéid de €700.
Tá a fhios againn conas mar a fheidhmíonn SUSI.
An bhfreagraíonn sé sin ceist an Teachta?
Beidh siad ag fanacht le haghaidh dhá bhliain.
Is féidir le daoine atá ar ioncaim íseal €700 a fháil.
3. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will comment on his recent signing of a new memorandum of understanding with the People's Republic of China; and if he will outline the further cultural contacts and developments regarding promotion of Ireland-China links. [13221/13]
View answerMy recent visit to China was very successful and, arising from it, there are a number of opportunities to deepen the artistic and cultural exchanges between Ireland and China, with a view to also enhancing commercial and trade opportunities between the two countries. During my visit to Beijing I had official talks with the Chinese Minister of Culture, Cai Wu; met the leaders of some of China’s most important cultural institutions, including the National Library, the Palace Museum and the National Centre for the Performing Arts; and met a gathering of high level business contacts. I also had engagement with a range of practitioners in the cultural sector, discussed Ireland’s Presidency priorities with the EU delegation and visited the Beijing-Dublin International College, the new joint campus of UCD and Beijing University of Technology.
During the official engagement with Minister for Culture Cai I discussed his wish to extend the memorandum of understanding on cultural exchange and co-operation between Ireland and China when it expires at the end of this year. In the context of a new memorandum of understanding, I also expressed the hope to him that 2014 would be designated a year of Irish culture in China, with a number of cultural events taking place to mark this designation. On my return, I asked my Department to put together the outline of such a programme, in consultation with our embassy in Beijing and consulate general in Shanghai.
Minister Cai raised with me the possibility of China establishing a cultural centre in Ireland. China now has ten such cultural centres overseas and the total number will grow to 50 over time. I also discussed the subject of EU-China relations in the cultural sector with Minister Cai who believes Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union presents an opportunity to deepen cultural relations between China and the Union and I have agreed, as chair of the Council of Ministers of Culture, to raise this matter at the May meeting of the Council.
In other engagements, during my meeting with the vice president of the Palace Museum, I discussed the potential for enhanced co-operation between the Palace Museum and the Chester Beatty Library which has a world class collection of oriental books and artefacts. I also discussed the upcoming visit to China by the Royal Irish Academy of Music with the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
I attended a reception for approximately 200 high-level business contacts, co-sponsored by IDA Ireland and A&L Goodbody and sourced through the Goodbody Chinese law firm network which was launched by the Taoiseach last March. This included a 60 minute private performance by the Riverdance cast, a show which is extremely popular in China. I used the opportunity to highlight to this group Ireland’s economic recovery and attractiveness as a destination for foreign direct investment.
I commend the Minister and thank him for his report. He did an excellent job in furthering our trade and cultural relations with China. The Presidency of the European Union gives Ireland a wonderful opportunity to develop and expand our relationship further in cultural tourism, general tourism, education and job creation.
If the Deputy wants to table a question to obtain a response on this matter, he might do so as time allocated for this question is nearly up.
Will the Minister comment on the potential to treble our volume of trade with China? We could also double or treble the number of Chinese students who come to Ireland and have a foreign exchange programme for Chinese and Irish students. The Institute of Technology, Tralee, has a good quota of Chinese students and it is only one such example of an Irish educational institution. I understand there are approximately 3,000 Chinese students in Ireland and believe we could increase that number to 30,000, which would represent a huge investment in the economy.
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am convinced there is huge potential to develop links with China not only cultural but also economic. We can leverage cultural events in order to attract investment. We need only consider the companies that attended the special Riverdance performance. Representatives of all the top companies in China attended and unless they were interested in Ireland and perhaps especially interested in Riverdance which is a major brand in China, they would not have made the effort to come from all over the country to attend. I view cultural events as a great calling card for this country in China and I am convinced that we can leverage much more economic activity from them. Riverdance has resulted in huge connections in China where it has had a huge impact. It is amazing how it has resonated with its people. I understand the show, with the new dance being created by John McColgan and Moya Doherty, will tour China again next year. We should avail of these opportunities to attract as much attention to Ireland as possible. I discussed with the Minister the possibility of designating 2014 as the year of Irish culture in China and he was very receptive to the idea.
4. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline financial supports given to arts centres on a county by county basis in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13147/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The council is funded by my Department and statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations, including funding decisions. Details of all funding provided by the council for arts practitioners, arts groups and venues, including arts centres, are available on the council's website at www.artscouncil.ie.
My Department's direct role in the funding of the arts relates in the main to the provision of capital funding. In Ireland there is no formally accepted definition of an arts centre, but it could be assumed to be a space which provides theatre space, gallery space, venues for musical performances, workshop areas or arts educational facilities. During the years capital funding has been provided for many projects which now provide such facilities.
Details of funding provided by my Department for such facilities in the years 2010 and 2011 are available on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie. An equivalent list of funding for 2012 and 2013, to date, is included in an appendix to this reply which will be circulated in the Official Report. The appendix also includes details of some current funding, including the philanthropy initiative, paid by my Department to arts organisations in 2012.
Capital Payments* from Cultural Infrastructure and Development Subhead in 2012
|
Grantee |
County |
Amount |
|
Cinema Digitisation Scheme |
National |
€49,420.50 |
|
Comhaltas Ceoltoírí Éireann |
National |
€10,174.00 |
|
Music Network |
National |
€199,878.00 |
|
The Abbey Theatre |
National |
€450,000.00 |
|
Sweeney Memorial Library |
Clare |
€94,483.60 |
|
National Sculpture Factory |
Cork |
€15,067.60 |
|
Gate Theatre |
Dublin |
€24,433.02 |
|
Smock Alley Theatre |
Dublin |
€357,796.98 |
|
Teach Siamsa Finuge & Teach Siamsa na Carraig |
Kerry |
€23,585.16 |
|
Belltable Arts Centre |
Limerick |
€20,051.46 |
|
Hunt Museum |
Limerick |
€70,000.00 |
|
Limerick City Gallery of Art |
Limerick |
€106,914.12 |
|
St. John's Square |
Limerick |
€123,064.52 |
|
Garage Theatre |
Monaghan |
€1,362,406.36 |
|
Nenagh Community Arts Centre |
Tipperary |
€1,558.29 |
|
Theatre Royal |
Waterford |
€578,749.49 |
|
Athlone Art Gallery |
Westmeath |
€12,038.20 |
|
Total |
€3,499,621.30 |
* Figures are subject to audit.
Current Payments* from Cultural Infrastructure and Development Subhead in 2012
|
Grantee |
County |
Amount |
|
Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann |
National |
€1,675,000 |
|
Introart |
National |
€19,000 |
|
Music Network |
National |
€30,000 |
|
Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal Competition |
Cork |
€2,000 |
|
Tigh Filí |
Cork |
€7,000 |
|
Cill Rialaig |
Kerry |
€12,646 |
|
Yeats Day |
Sligo |
€7,890 |
|
Total |
€1,753,536 |
* Figures are subject to audit.
Philanthropy Scheme Payments* from Cultural Infrastructure and Development Subhead in 2012
|
Grantee |
County |
Amount |
|
|
IMMA |
National |
€8,333 |
|
|
National Irish Visual Arts Library |
National |
€1,835 |
|
|
The Abbey Theatre |
National |
€6,000 |
|
|
Briery Gap Cultural Centre Ltd |
Cork |
€2,500 |
|
|
Cork Community Art Link Limited |
Cork |
€1,955 |
|
|
Boston College |
Dublin |
€20,000 |
|
|
Draíocht, Blanchardstown |
Dublin |
€5,000 |
|
|
Dublin Theatre Festival Ltd |
Dublin |
€20,000 |
|
|
First Fortnight |
Dublin |
€5,000 |
|
|
GAZE Film Festival Ltd |
Dublin |
€5,866 |
|
|
Little Museum of Dublin |
Dublin |
€5,498 |
|
|
Monica Loughman Ballet |
Dublin |
10,000 |
|
|
Ouroboros Ireland |
Dublin |
€7,000 |
|
|
Temple Bar Gallery |
Dublin |
€1,250 |
|
|
Temple Bar Traders |
Dublin |
€1,500 |
|
|
Baboró Galway International Children's Festival |
Galway |
€9,963 |
|
|
Blue Teapot Company |
Galway |
€5,000 |
|
|
Druid Theatre |
Galway |
€8,590 |
|
|
Let's Do It Galway Ltd |
Galway |
€20,000 |
|
|
Loughrea Heritage & Development Co. Ltd |
Galway |
€2,200 |
|
|
Macnas Ltd |
Galway |
€2,494 |
|
|
Portumna Arts Group |
Galway |
€3,000 |
|
|
Charlie Chaplin Comedy Festival |
Kerry |
€5,000 |
|
|
Cill Rialaig |
Kerry |
€10,000 |
|
|
The Butler Gallery |
Kilkenny |
€1,625 |
|
|
Limerick Corridor Art Programme |
Limerick |
€1,250 |
|
|
The Model |
Sligo |
€5,000 |
|
|
Clonmel Junction Festival |
Tipperary |
€4,500 |
|
|
Waterford Healing Arts Trust |
Waterford |
€2,000 |
|
|
Wexford Festival Opera |
Wexford |
€20,000 |
|
|
Total |
€202,358.00 |
* Figures are subject to audit.
Capital Payments* from Cultural Infrastructure and Development Subhead in 2013
|
Grantee |
County |
Amount |
|
|
Music Network |
National |
€182,546.83 |
|
|
Sweeney Memorial Library/Theatre, Kilkee |
Clare |
€69,875.44 |
|
|
Cill Rialaig |
Kerry |
€6,000.00 |
|
|
Garage Theatre |
Monaghan |
€569,702.54 |
|
|
Athlone Art Gallery |
Westmeath |
€503,303.41 |
|
|
Wexford Festival Trust |
Wexford |
€30,331.00 |
|
|
Total |
€1,361,759.22 |
* Figures are subject to audit.
Current Payments* from Cultural Infrastructure and Development Subhead in 2013
|
Grantee |
County |
Amount |
|
Maire Uí Iarnáin |
National |
€694.95 |
|
Other Voices |
National |
€70,000.00 |
|
Total |
€70,694.95 |
* Figures are subject to audit.
Tá mé buíoch den Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin. I tabled this question in the context of two important developments - two significant speeches made by the President, Michael D. Higgins, in Paris recently, one at UNESCO and another in the Pompidou Centre where he talked about the importance, not least at a time of recession, of investment in the arts and culture and also the very disappointing development in Limerick where the Belltable Arts Centre has gone into liquidation, having provided a superb service on a regional basis for the people of the greater Limerick area for the past 32 years. Given that we are agreed that the network of arts centres developed across the country during the past two or three decades has brought the arts to the people in a very meaningful way and made a range of arts activities accessible to people in rural and provincial Ireland in a way that would not have been otherwise possible, will the Minister provide assurances that, in respect of the Belltable Arts Centre, some initiative can be taken to ensure the arts centre will be open in 2014 when Limerick becomes the first city of culture? Will he also assure us that there will be continued investment in the other network of centres across the country?
I thank the Deputy for his question. The Arts Council has primary responsibility for the funding of centres across the country. As my predecessors in the Department made a huge investment in the Belltable Arts Centre, obviously we are very concerned about what is happening. Together with my officials, I will do everything possible when the current process is completed to ensure the centre will again be used as both a performing and visual arts centre. It is situated in the middle of Limerick city. I was in Limerick only last Monday and visited places such as Moyross and South Hill where there are some thriving arts communities and I was very encouraged by what I saw. The arts community was strong in pointing out that there were no facilities in the centre of town where the Belltable Arts Centre was located and in which the Daghdha Dance Company had a performing area. I agree with the Deputy that it is very important that the Belltable Arts Centre function again as an arts centre. My Department and I, together with Limerick City Council, will certainly do everything possible to ensure that will happen. It is very important that it should happen.
I am impressed by the Minister's reply, for which I thank him. I am reassured by what he said and sure we will have an opportunity to return to this matter again. In the light of what has happened in Limerick, has the Minister had any engagement with the Arts Council or is it surveying arts centres across the country to ensure other centres will not find themselves in the same situation as the centre in Limerick? Furthermore, is he aware if the Arts Council provides any financial or management training for the boards of arts centres? It is essential that boards have the necessary skills to ensure the centres are made as financially viable as possible.
The Arts Council funds the various centres based on applications made to it. A centre would have to show that it had the capacity to operate and due diligence would be applied to all centres. I will convey what the Deputy has said to the council. As a country, we have made a huge investment in arts centres in the past 20 years. The total investment, including current and capital funding, made in the previous ten years prior to my coming into office amounted to nearly €1 billion, a huge investment. It is important that we ensure these centres which were provided mostly with funding provided by taxpayers will remain open, that there will be a proper programme in place and so on. I take the Deputy's point and will convey his question to the council on it providing a service for the centres to ensure they are administered properly and cognisant of the financial arrangements necessary to ensure their viability.
5. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will seek to add the GPO-Moore Street battlefield site to the current list of sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List submitted by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13162/13]
View answerUNESCO sets out a formal process for State signatories to the World Heritage Convention for the purpose of nominating properties on their territories for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The nomination process is initiated by the relevant State authorities, which draw up a tentative list of what they consider to be the most important heritage sites within their national boundaries. The tentative list is compiled with a view to providing a shortlist of potential sites for possible submission to UNESCO for inclusion in the World Heritage List. UNESCO will consider nominations for World Heritage status only from those sites included on a nation's tentative list.
In 2008, the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government established an expert advisory group to review Ireland's tentative list and to identify the Irish heritage sites which best met the criteria for inclusion on the World Heritage List. A particular criterion is for a site to be considered to be of outstanding universal value, defined by UNESCO as meaning that it is of "cultural and or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity."
Following full public consultation and consideration by the expert advisory group, a new tentative list for Ireland was approved and submitted to UNESCO in March 2010. The list was selected following an inclusive, consultative and scientific process that set out to identify the sites that most closely corresponded to the selection criteria laid down by UNESCO and, crucially, that met the definition of outstanding universal value. The sites were selected on the basis that they stood the best possible chance of successfully making their way through the rigorous evaluation process applying to nominations put forward for the World Heritage List.
A proposal for the historic city of Dublin is included on Ireland's tentative list with the justification for its outstanding universal value based, inter alia, on the development of Georgian Dublin, the city's contribution to world literature, the establishment of the Wide Streets Commission and the range of buildings of high architectural quality. I am, of course, acutely aware of the significance of the GPO and Moore Street area as the location of key events that ultimately led to the foundation of the State and of the importance of preserving and celebrating that legacy as part of our national history and heritage.
It is almost impossible to talk about Dublin's rich literary tradition without simultaneously acknowledging the centrality of the battlefield site. Sean O’Casey’s work, particularly his dramatic trilogy, use both the events and the setting of Moore Street and the GPO in 1916 as a central prop. If one extracts the events and setting from O’Casey’s work it becomes meaningless.
Does the Minister agree that the events, setting, streetscape and urban fabric of the site had a major influence on the social and cultural evolution of the people of Dublin? Does he accept that James Joyce extracts from the rich urban quilt the key personalities, eccentricities and stories without which he could not have written Ulysses? Does the Minister agree that the city, particularly the city centre and the Moore Street battlefield site as a setting, has made an extraordinary contribution to world literature and that the site in its totality, with its literary, architectural and urban fabric, needs to be recognised as having had a formative influence on the writers mentioned, on the works mentioned and on others writers such as George Bernard Shaw, Roddy Doyle and Brendan Behan? Will he acknowledge that the site has been a central element in works considered to be of great human creative genius?
I accept everything that Deputy McLellan says and I am sure the House would as well. We have several tentative sites. The next step is to evaluate the sites further with a view to ultimate designation. Representatives of the Céide Fields, including Seamus Caulfield, were in contact with me and I met them. They are very anxious to designate the Céide Fields in Mayo as a World Heritage Site. There are some concerns there about planning permission, as there are in Clonmacnoise. In order to advance the process I have requested that UNESCO send us its expert in this area very soon to discuss the tentative sites and how we can advance them to full heritage status. That is the next step in the process. Becoming a World Heritage Site is quite complicated. There must to be major consultation with stakeholders, including the local community. That is a fundamental part of the process.
Following submission of a nominations file to UNESCO, it is evaluated by three advisory bodies, including the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the World Conservation Union and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. There is a process of evaluation to go through that takes some time. I hope that after this meeting and following this consultative process, we will have a clearer pathway forward.
The site is directly associated with events, ideas, beliefs and works of outstanding universal significance. Does the Minister accept that symbolically the site represents a significant aspect of Irish identity, in that it informs our sense of what it means to be Irish, and that this same landscape is now in a worrying state of decay? The State should without further delay take ownership of the site on behalf of the people.
The Moore Street site is in private ownership. Dublin City Council and An Bord Pleanála approved an application for planning permission for the site. There is one section that my predecessor designated as a national monument, which is in private ownership. Any work to be carried out on that requires my permission. This area of Dublin, not only the site concerned, needs major upgrading, rejuvenation and revival. We all agree on that and it would help if we could do it in the context of the centenary of 1916.
That is very important.
