Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013
326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which his Department or bodies under his aegis have financially supported directly or indirectly various bodies of an artistic or cultural nature in County Kildare in each of the past four years to date; his expectations in this regard for the current and future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44797/13]
View answer328. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to an examination of applications for grant aid from local community based musical or theatrical groups, if the existence of some such groups who have never received such assistance has come to attention; if any evaluation will be done with a view to addressing such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44799/13]
View answer329. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on the examination of applications for grant aid from local community based musical or theatrical groups in County Kildare, if the existence of some such groups who have never received such assistance has come to attention; if any evaluation will be done with a view to addressing such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44800/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 326, 328 and 329 together.
The 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. As 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 is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations, including funding decisions. In 2013, the Arts Council will receive an allocation of over €60.6 million in current, capital and EU Presidency funding. Details of all funding provided by the Arts Council to arts practitioners, arts groups and venues, including arts centres, are available on the Council's website at www.artscouncil.ie. In a wider context, the Arts Council support of a range of arts forms is set out in its strategic overview document entitled Developing the Arts in Ireland: Arts Council Strategic Overview 2011-2013. In this strategy document, which is available on the Council's website, its work and key strategic principles that inform its funding decisions are laid out.
I have outlined previously for the Deputy a range of ways in which my Department and relevant bodies within its remit are supporting cultural and heritage initiatives in conjunction with local groups and communities. These include the following cultural tourism initiatives that have been wholly or partly funded by my Department:
- St. Patrick's Day celebrations;
- Music Day;
- Culture Night;
- Arts Council support of the Arts Festivals and Events scheme, which supports some 150 small arts festivals in towns and villages throughout Ireland each year;
- Arts Council funding of arts centres and venues around the State, as well as the Council's funding of touring and dissemination of high-quality work in all disciplines through the national network of arts centres and venues;
- The Arts Council partnership with local authorities and Art Officers throughout the country;
- Funding of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann by my Department to support its work in the promotion of Irish traditional music;
- Cultural and heritage events being held under the auspices of The Gathering;
- Web-based projects being developed by my Department to promote greater appreciation and understanding of Ireland's heritage for residents and visitors alike;
- Collaborative work with bodies and groups such as the Arts Council, the Heritage Council, the Irish Heritage Trust, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Music Network.
My Department also operates a philanthropic initiative for arts and culture organisations.
I would also refer the Deputy to my previous replies in relation to these matters. In January last, I provided details of the number of applications received for grant-aid and other forms of support from applicants from County Kildare and the extent to which these applications were approved. My Department's website will be updated with details of grant-aid to organisations after the year end.
