Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2013
262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which financial support is available to ethnic groups for the promotion of their musical culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28856/13]
View answerThe Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts, and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life.
The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations and my Department has no role to play in its executive or funding decisions. Full information on the Council's funding decisions is made available on their funding decisions database on their website www.artscouncil.ie.
Within the current economic constraints, investment in the arts, heritage, culture and creative sectors is more important than ever, having regard to the employment intensity of these sectors. While I know that the Deputy appreciates the funding difficulties facing all Departments at this time, I can assure him that I remain committed to securing the best possible level of funding for these sectors.
There is no specific funding provision in my Department's Vote to support ethnic groups. There is, however, a philanthropic initiative for arts and culture organisations designed to encourage philanthropic sponsorship and endowment of the arts from private sources. The initiative provides an incentive to arts organisations to proactively seek new funding relationships with sponsors which deliver private sector financial support, thereby increasing overall funding available to the arts.
A total of €210,000 is available this year to arts organisations under the scheme. A majority of the funding will be directed towards arts and culture organisations seeking support for projects that include an education component. In 2013, it is hoped that the Philanthropy Initiative, while continuing to provide an incentive to arts organisations to engage in fundraising, will also encourage arts and culture organisations to engage creatively with children and young people and add to their education.
