Written Answers Nos. 379 - 393
379. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Leader funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3788/17]
View answerLeader funding is delivered through Local Action Groups in each of the 28 Leader sub-regional areas around the country. The Leader programme funds projects under three policy themes:
- Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation
- Social Inclusion, and
- Rural Environment.
In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy in the sub-regional area concerned, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.
Project approvals are a matter for the Local Action Group in the relevant area and I have no function in relation to those matters.
380. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when beneficiaries of dormant account funding will be able to draw down funding following the completion of the applications and allocations of this funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3866/17]
View answer381. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when, in the first quarter of 2017, applications for dormant account funding will be opened; the time period for organisations to spend the allocations once completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3867/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 together.
The Dormant Accounts Act 2001, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Acts 2005-2012, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings.
The Acts provide for the disbursement of funds for the purposes of programmes or projects to assist:
- the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged;
- the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged, or
- persons with a disability.
The Act provides for Disbursement Schemes and Action Plans to be prepared by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in consultation with relevant Government Ministers and other parties.
A Disbursement Scheme is prepared every three years and sets out the objectives to be achieved by making disbursements from the Fund, and the strategies for achieving those objectives. The current Disbursement Scheme ran to the end of 2016. My Department is currently carrying out a consultation process seeking proposals for inclusion in a new Scheme to cover the period 2017-2019.
An Action Plan for 2017 under the new Disbursement Scheme will be drawn up by my officials following consultation with relevant Government Departments. The Action Plan will contain details of specific schemes or programmes to be operated by Departments. It will be a matter for the relevant Departments to set criteria and invite applications for their own schemes.
I will shortly be launching a call for proposals for a new Social Enterprise measure to support social enterprises that provide services to, or employment opportunities for, disadvantaged people, particularly in rural areas. Pobal will administer this measure on behalf of my Department and details of the measure will be available at www.pobal.ie in the coming weeks.
382. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the projects in County Tipperary that will be supported by the rural action plan, Realising our Rural Potential: Action Plan for Rural Development; the funding being provided for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3873/17]
View answerThe Action Plan for Rural Development provides a framework of supports to improve the lives of people who live and work in rural Ireland. It is the first Plan of its kind to address both the economic and social needs of rural Ireland through a whole-of-Government approach.
The Plan contains over 270 actions, all of which aim to support rural communities throughout the country. These actions are spread over five thematic pillars aimed at:
- Supporting Sustainable Communities,
- Supporting Enterprise and Employment,
- Maximising our Rural Tourism and Recreation Potential,
- Fostering Culture and Creativity in rural communities, and
- Improving Rural Infrastructure and Connectivity.
Initiatives under the Plan will be rolled out by various Government Departments and State agencies, and will benefit all rural communities, including those in Co. Tipperary.
As far as my own Department is concerned, along with Minister Ring I will shortly be launching calls for proposals under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the CLÁR programme, the Rural Recreation Scheme and the Built Heritage Investment scheme. There will also be €40 million available this year for the delivery of the LEADER Rural Development Programme.
I will also be increasing access to the arts in rural communities, including through the roll out of a new small grants scheme for upgrades to regional arts and culture centres.
Overall funding for Regional and Rural Programmes in my Department’s Estimate has increased from a figure of €61.2 million in 2016, to €79.2 million in 2017 - an increase of 29%. This will allow for additional activity on key rural development schemes administered by the Department which will also be complemented by the broader work of my Department, much of which has a positive impact on rural Ireland.
383. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the specific measures that the Government will action, as part of the Government's recently announced plan for rural Ireland, in relation to rural County Kildare and the towns that will be included as part of the action plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3981/17]
View answerThe Action Plan for Rural Development provides a framework of supports to improve the lives of people who live and work in rural Ireland. Supporting towns and villages is just one element of a much more comprehensive Plan aimed at addressing both the economic and social needs of rural Ireland through a whole-of-Government approach. As part of Budget 2017, I have secured funding of €12 million for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme this year. This represents a trebling of the original 2016 baseline allocation of €4 million for the scheme.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2017 will be launched shortly and towns and villages to be considered under the scheme, including in County Kildare, will be selected through an application and assessment process. The scheme will be funded by my Department and administered by Local Authorities. Full details of the scheme and the application process will be made available when the scheme is launched.
Rural towns and villages across the country will also benefit from a range of other measures in the Action Plan for Rural Development, including in relation to supports for community projects, tourism projects, sports and cultural activities and job creation. Initiatives in these different areas will be launched on a phased basis by the relevant Government Departments and agencies.
384. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of funding her Department has awarded to an Irish arts centre in New York (details supplied) in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3987/17]
View answerThe remit of Culture Ireland, a division of my Department, is to promote and advance Irish arts worldwide thus strengthening Ireland’s cultural profile and global reputation. Strategic priorities include providing support for the international presentation of Irish artists and arts organisations, developing new and diverse international audiences and markets for Irish arts, and linking culture into the Government’s international promotion strategy in tandem with other relevant Government Agencies. In addition to the main funding programmes, Culture Ireland supports two key partners to promote Irish arts abroad – the Centre Culturel in Paris and the Irish Arts Center in New York.
The funding provided by Culture Ireland to the Irish Arts Center in New York supports Irish artists' travel related costs. In 2016 my Department provided increased funding of €236,198 to enable an enhanced programme of Irish artists to be presented as part of 'I Am Ireland', Centenary year programme. I have now allocated €200,000 in funding to the centre for events planned for 2017.
In addition, capital funding of €1 million was provided by my Department for the development of the new Irish Arts Center in 2016. This capital funding will supplement private and US State support, including City of New York funding of $36.85m, State of New York funding of $3.65m and private funding $7.6m. My Department’s grant in December complements over €3m provided to date by the Government through the Emigrant Support Programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as the support provided by the Office of Public Works in preparing the designs for the new Center. The new Irish Arts Center, when completed, will be a flagship venue which will offer a major platform for the coming generation of Irish artists and performers.
The additional funding which I have now provided will assist in ensuring that this flagship artistic Irish cultural venue is delivered on schedule by allowing site preparations to progress as planned.
The support provided over the past 10 years to the Center is set out a follows:
|
Year |
Amount allocated |
|
2017 |
200,000 |
|
2016 |
236,198 |
|
2015 |
130,000 |
|
2014 |
118,500 |
|
2013 |
117,884 |
|
2012 |
20,200 |
|
2011 |
6,000 |
|
2010 |
30,500 |
|
2009 |
26,000 |
|
2008 |
47,000 |
385. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cost of moving artwork and paintings from location to location outside the State by her Department in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4040/17]
View answer386. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cost of moving artwork and paintings from location to location in the State by her Department in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4041/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together.
My Department has not incurred any costs of the nature described by the Deputy in the period in question.
For completeness I would advise that, under the Mobility of Collections scheme funding is made available to local and regional museums and galleries to facilitate the display of items from the National Collection. Details of funding provided under this scheme can be viewed on my Department’s website at http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/arts/culture/grants-and-funding/cultural-projects-funding.
Culture Ireland also offers grant support to artists to present their work internationally which may include transport of artworks abroad.
387. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if funding is available in relation to a matter (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4056/17]
View answerThe matter referred to by the Deputy is included in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for Kerry County Council and is in the relevant local authority's Record of Protected Structures (RPS). Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future. I can confirm that no funding is available from my Department in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy.
388. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the towns and village centres in County Meath that have been selected under the Realising our Rural Potential: Action Plan for Rural Development to encourage residential occupancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4063/17]
View answerThe Action Plan for Rural Development contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential. This is just one element of a much more comprehensive Plan aimed at addressing both the economic and social needs of rural Ireland through a whole-of-Government approach.
As part of Budget 2017, I have secured funding of €12 million for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme this year. This represents a trebling of the original 2016 baseline allocation of €4 million for the scheme. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2017 will be launched shortly and towns and villages involved in the scheme, including in County Meath, will be selected through an application and assessment process. The scheme will be funded by my Department and administered by the Local Authorities.
As part of the scheme, I intend to launch a pilot project to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. This pilot will be launched separately in the second half of the year, when details of the scheme have been finalised in consultation with relevant Departments. The pilot will examine ways in which properties that are currently not in use in town centres can be renovated to allow them to be used for residential purposes.
389. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has agreed to carry over funding for the 1916 commemoration to the general arts, culture and film programme 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4079/17]
View answer411. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the approach she is taking to ensure that the €50 million spent in 2016 on commemoration will be retained in the arts budget for 2017 for the benefit of the arts and culture nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4104/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 411 together.
In 2016, once off funding of approximately €49 million was allocated to the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme under my Department’s Arts Division; approximately €18 million in current funding and €31 million in capital.
This capital funded once off projects including the new visitor centre at the GPO, Richmond Barracks, the Kevin Barry Rooms at the National Concert Hall and the Athenaeum in Wexford.
As part of the 2017 Budget, I retained the majority of the €18 million current funding for 2017 which is now part of the baseline for the Arts division of the Department, meaning it will be available for future years.
This included:
- An additional €5m for the Arts Council, an 8% increase in its annual budget;
- Boosts in funding for all of the National Cultural Institutions;
- €2m to allow for the opening of the newly restored historic wings at the National Gallery of Ireland and the opening of Killarney House on the foot of significant capital investment by the State;
- An increase of €2m for the Irish Film Board and €1m for Culture Ireland;
- Funding of €5m for the implementation of the Creative Ireland Programme 2017–2022.
I am confident that this substantial increase in funding for the arts, culture and film sectors will allow us to build on the positive legacy of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. It also re-affirms the commitment of the Government to progressively increase funding for the arts as the economy improves and also reflects the importance attached to promoting and supporting our artistic and cultural strengths, and supporting jobs in our creative industries.
390. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the Government will commit to the long-term goal of increasing arts funding to the European average of 0.6% of GDP. [4080/17]
View answer391. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to increase funding in the arts over the lifetime of the Government; and her views on whether funding for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board should be doubled. [4081/17]
View answer410. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on the recent comments by a person (details supplied) that the Arts Council should be getting three or four times the amount of funding it receives from the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4103/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 391 and 410 together.
The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve.
In Budget 2017, I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board. The increase in the Arts Council's allocation in 2017 is €5 million, or 8%, and will assist the Council greatly in implementing its 10-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025). I also secured an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board, representing a 14% increase in its annual budget. This increase in funding will allow the Board to invest more in Irish talent in the year ahead and follows on from a very successful year for the Irish film sector, particularly the indigenous film sector.
Budget 2017 also includes:
- increased funding for all of the National Cultural Institutions;
- an increase of €1 million for Culture Ireland;
- an additional €1 million to the Heritage Council; and
- funding of €5m for the implementation of a Legacy Programme now known as the Creative Ireland Programme and the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in the draft framework policy Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach which I published in July last year.
All of this represents real and substantial funding increases across the arts and cultural area and has been welcomed across the sector. It re-affirms the commitment of this Government to progressively increase funding for the arts as the economy improves, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government.
As previously pointed out to the Deputy, the source of the reference to 0.6% of GDP is a Council of Europe research project and many European countries, including ten EU member states, are not included in the data. I understand also that the data is not standardised and is not comparable across countries. For example, local authority expenditure on the arts, the artists' exemption tax relief, expenditure on public service broadcasting and the Irish language are not included in the figures for Ireland but comparable figures are included in the data for some other countries.
392. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will create an arts capital fund, modelled after the sports capital fund, to ensure better long-term funding for Irish arts. [4082/17]
View answerLast year I announced a new €9 million investment scheme for arts and cultural centres to run over the next three years, focused on securing and enhancing our arts and culture infrastructure. The scheme will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces. The closing date for receipt of applications was in September. I hope to make announcements on this scheme very shortly.
I will also shortly be announcing details of a new small capital grant scheme for arts and cultural facilities for not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and cultural remit.
393. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will liaise with the Minister for Social Protection to examine the supports for working artists in the social welfare system; if she will relax activation rules for working artists to allow them to support themselves in view of the fact they produce the art and cultural pieces for which Ireland is rightly proud. [4083/17]
View answerLast month, I announced that my Department in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection would devise a mechanism during 2017 to assist self-employed artists who have applied for Jobseeker’s Allowance.
I have been in contact with my colleague the Minister for Social Protection on the matter and officials of our two Departments have already begun working on this initiative in consultation with the Arts Council. The scheme will be a pilot scheme and is part of the Creative Ireland Programme which was launched by the Taoiseach and I and on 8 December last. Details of the pilot scheme will be announced as soon as possible.
