Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
41. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps she will take to increase the provision of arts education to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20442/17]
View answerWhat steps are being taken by the Minister to increase the provision of arts education in schools?
The Creative Ireland programme, which was launched by the Taoiseach and me in December, places a special focus on enabling the creative potential of every child. It will build on the arts in education charter through the development of an integrated plan, Creative Children, to enable every child in Ireland to access tuition in music, drama, art and coding by 2022. Officials in my Department are continuing to work with their counterparts in relevant Departments and other stakeholders to develop this plan with a launch timeframe of early autumn 2017. The Creative Children plan will build on the work to date in implementing the arts in education charter. My Department is continuing to work closely with the Department of Education and Skills and the Arts Council to deliver the key objectives of the charter in the wider context of the Creative Ireland programme. The objectives of the charter have been achieved largely through existing structures such as education centres. Good progress has been made with the launch of Ireland's first arts in education portal, the holding of national arts and education days and the development of teacher-artist partnerships through education and training centres. I look forward to attending national arts day events next Saturday, 6 May 2017, at St. Patrick's College in Drumcondra. Arising from the significant increase in support of €5 million which I secured for the Arts Council as part of budget 2017, I am pleased that the Arts Council decided to increase funding in this area from €3.1 million in 2016 to €3.7 million this year. These initiatives demonstrate the Government's overall commitment to deliver for children as we work in finalising the Creative Children plan.
On the issue of disability, Creative Ireland aims to increase participation among all members of society which includes people with disabilities. Creative Ireland is the overriding policy document from which all these strategies flow.
The 2016 programme for Government has a commitment to implement the arts in education charter. It is important to recognise the hard work of Professor John Coolahan, Dr. Katie Sweeney and other members of the charter implementation group. Both the Minister and I know personally and in detail the work that has gone into this.
The arts in education portal has been a huge success and in 2015, the Department gave €120,000 towards it. To March 2016, it had more than 18,000 visitors and hits. However, as there are 90,000 teachers across the island, it means in total 20% of visits were from teachers.
On the actual implementation of strand one, the creative potential in every child, the Minister aims to fast-track, embrace and resource the arts in education charter as a core element of the Creative Ireland agenda. This is wonderful. How is this going to be implemented, however? What is the Minister going to do in practical terms?
The integrated implementation plan for arts in education, which is a priority for Creative Ireland, seeks to enable the creative potential of every child. The creative children plan will see the key objectives of the charter for arts in education embraced, fast-tracked and resourced as a core element of the Creative Ireland agenda. Principles and guidelines are stated in the charter, which include enabling children to explore alternative ways of communication, encouraging ideas that are personal and inventive, and making a vital contribution to the development of a range of intelligences. These build on existing initiatives such as the worldwide coding for children movement, CoderDojo, music generation, which is both a cultural movement and an instrument for creative learning, and the Ark, a dedicated cultural centre for children in Temple Bar. The Department of Education and Skills, together with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and my Department, will be central to the success of this pillar. It is anticipated that the plan for pillar 1 of the Creative Ireland programme, enabling the creative potential of every child, will be launched in early autumn 2017.
The Minister just read what is in the Creative Ireland programme. While that is wonderful, it is aspirational. I asked what tangible actions Minister will undertake to implement this plan. Will it be the local arts in education partnerships? Will the Department of Education and Skills work with her Department? How will it be brought into the schools? Will the education and training boards be brought together with the local arts officers?
Perhaps the Deputy should have listened to what I just said. I will work with the Department of Education and Skills, the education centres and the Arts Council to bring forward this initiative. It is an important initiative which will enable the creative potential of every child. It will allow children to have access to tuition in music, dance, coding or whatever form in which they wish to participate. I agree we must encourage and promote the arts through our schools.
Yes, but how?
There can only be one speaker at a time. The Deputy can ask another question if she so wishes.
How will this be done?
We have had several meetings with different stakeholders. This plan has been worked on and will be launched in autumn 2017.
Will it be through the local arts in education partnerships? Will they implement the arts in education charter?
As I said, this will be done through the education sector and education centres. There have been meetings and it has been discussed with the Department of Education and Skills. It will be rolled out in conjunction with the education centres.
