I confirmed on Tuesday this week that the name of my newly reconfigured Department was approved by Government as the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
The new name reflects the broader remit of the reconfigured Department, which retains all of the responsibilities of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, with additional responsibility for a wide range of programmes relating to rural and regional affairs and development.
The creation of a larger Department, with a wider remit, will not in any way diminish the importance of arts and culture within Government. On the contrary, a larger Department with wider responsibilities, will bring greater weight to bear in promoting the importance of arts and culture right across Government. The wider brief of rural and regional affairs sits well with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to strengthen the role of arts and heritage at local level, including by building stronger links with local development groups.
This is also coupled with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to progressively increase funding to the arts as the economy continues to improve. In 2016, the Arts, Culture and Film programme of my Department will account for the highest proportion of my Department’s Vote at 49% (€188m) of the total allocation. This reflects the fact that the arts are essential to the well-being of our society and that a thriving arts and cultural sector makes a hugely positive contribution to the Irish nation in general.
