Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
342. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the funding provided to ensure children have access to music education in schools; the work her Department has undertaken in response to recommendations 10 to 13 of the Report entitled Na hEalaíona – Ní Cuma Leo issued by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in May 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34593/21]
View answerMy Department takes the recommendations 10-13 in respect of Music Education of the report entitled Na hEalaíona – Ní Cuma Leo issued by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in May 2019 very seriously.
Music Generation is a National Music Education Programme that aims to transform the lives of children and young people through access to high-quality, subsidised performance music education. Music Generation focuses on the provision of performance music education – that is, the breadth of vocal and instrumental learning in all genres and styles of music. This includes all pedagogical approaches and practices appropriate to particular musical cultures and traditions, and is delivered by professional musician teachers.
The Department has a total of €6.485m funding allocated for Music Generation in 2021. A breakdown of the funding is contained in the following table.
|
Area of Expenditure |
|
|
National Development Office |
€685,000 |
|
Local Music Education Partnerships |
€5,200,000 |
|
Quality Support and Development |
€600,00 |
|
Total |
€6,485,000 |
My Department has also established the new non-mainstream Music Education Bursary Scheme. In 2021 the scheme is worth €100,000. The purpose of the scheme is to provide support by way of a cash grant to established, smaller-scale, non-mainstream music education/community music initiatives with limited or no access to other forms of public funding.
Co-operation hours are provided to five Education and Training Boards. These include Cork ETB, Limerick Clare ETB, City of Dublin ETB and Galway Roscommon. In many instances these initiatives provide access to non-mainstream music education. In addition in Cork, Limerick, Clare and City of Dublin funding is provided under co-operation hours for Schools of Music programmes for further development of talented young musicians whilst undergoing second level education.
