Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
1905. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the budget allocation to Creative Youth in 2017 and 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54942/17]
View answer1906. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of full-time equivalent staff employed at Creative Youth in 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54943/17]
View answer1908. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of full-time equivalent staff employed at Creative Ireland in 2017 and to date 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54945/17]
View answer1913. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the departmental and oversight mechanisms in place with regard to Creative Youth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54950/17]
View answer1914. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the departmental and oversight mechanisms in place with regard to Creative Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54951/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1905, 1906, 1908, 1913 and 1914 together.
The Creative Ireland Programme is a high level, high ambition, five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which aims to place creativity at the centre of public policy. As such it is primarily delivered through the existing cultural structures – the Arts Council, the Film Board, local authorities, and relevant Government Departments, including my own.
The Creative Ireland Programme Office is an integral part of my Department and sits within the Culture Division of the Department. As such the usual departmental and oversight processes in place regarding decision-making apply. The Creative Ireland Programme it is not a separate agency or body.
During 2017, there were 9.8 staff members working on the Creative Ireland Programme. This included two seconded staff from Fáilte Ireland, a temporary Clerical Officer and two external service providers who were engaged as part of an open tender process. There are currently 6.8 staff members working in the Office. This includes two external service providers. The process to engage a full time Director is currently underway and is expected to be completed shortly. Summary in tabular form as requested:
|
Grade |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Director (Seconded) |
1 |
0 |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
1 |
1 |
|
HEO |
1.8 |
1.8 |
|
CO |
2 (1=temporary) |
1 |
|
Communications Service Provider (external) |
1 |
1 |
|
Citizen Engagement Service Provider (external) |
1 |
1 |
|
Event Manager & Support worker (Seconded) |
1 |
0 |
|
Total |
9.8 |
6.8 |
The Creative Youth Programme – Creative Youth – A plan to enable the creative potential of every child and young person, which was launched on 7 December 2017, sets out measures to deliver on one of the key goals of the Creative Ireland Programme, to ensure that every child in Ireland has practical access to tuition, experience and participation in music, drama, art and coding by 2022. It was developed in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children and youth Affairs and the Arts Council.
My Department is providing over €1m to this Plan in 2018 which is matched by €1m from the Department of Education and Skills. The Plan was developed from within existing resources in my Department, the Department of Education and Skills and the Arts Council and will be delivered from within those resources. Consideration is being given to the appropriate oversight mechanism for the Creative Youth Programme having regard to the existing structures developed for the Arts in Education Charter.
