Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her office continue to encourage cultural projects at local and national level with a view to ensuring maximisation of economic benefit through the medium of culture and tourism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46007/23]
View answer218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department continue to encourage all forms of the arts, including the stage and film industry, local voluntary groups and those interested in the promotion of the arts at amateur and local level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46008/23]
View answer219. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she continues to engage with cultural groups of local and national importance throughout the country and in County Kildare with a view to maximisation of culture as a means of promoting business and boosting the economy at local and national level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46009/23]
View answer220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which this country remains an attractive base for film location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46010/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 217 to 220, inclusive, together.
With the aim of ensuring that Ireland is an attractive base for film location, encouraging all forms of the arts and cultural projects at local and national level and generally maximising culture as a means of promoting business and boosting the economy, I provided the following in Budget 2024
• Record funding of €134m for the Arts Council to build on recent successes in the sector
• The highest level of funding for Culture Ireland since its establishment to support more Irish artists to launch and develop their careers on an international stage.
• A new pilot capital support scheme for Arts, Culture and the Night Time Economy to continue the development of vibrant late night arts and culture scenes in Irish cities, towns and villages as well as additional capital to assist in the provision of building and equipment needs, artists workspaces, and adapting facilities to reduce energy needs and carbon footprints
• Increased funding of €1.5m to Screen Ireland to support the audiovisual industry to build and expand capacity across the country, to deliver on strategic objectives, to take account of inflation on the value of supports, provide Sustainability Funding and Audience Development initiatives, as well as providing a targeted international marketing campaign to highlight the improvements to Section 481 announced by the Minister for Finance
• In conjunction with Minister McGrath, changes to Section 481 tax relief to further enhance Ireland’s attractiveness as a location for major international film and television projects, building on the remarkable success of “The Banshees of Inisherin” and “An Cailín Ciúin”. In particular the increase in the cap to €125m will restore Ireland’s ability to attract high-value, internationally mobile audio-visual projects that will generate significant employment and skills development opportunities for Irish crew
• Basic Income for the Arts is funded for the second of three years of the pilot. Research will be published shortly setting out the impact on the lives of participants to date
• Increased funding for the Safe to Create Programme that supports all artists and creatives that will allow Minding Creative Minds to provide new dedicated HR, Mediation, Legal & Financial advice to the creative sector, creative therapies, dedicated mentoring & career services as well as an information campaign on its serious trauma counselling service.
• Further support for Creative Ireland, to implement projects under the expanded Creative Climate Action Fund will underpin the Department’s commitment to building for a better future through supporting participation in creative cultural activity
• Additional support for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
• In conjunction with Minister McGrath, our National Cultural Institutions and other approved bodies will benefit from an increase in the tax relief on donations further incentivises donation to strengthen our national collections. The cap on the relief under the scheme will increase from €6m to €8m next year
• Increased funding for our National Cultural Institutions for programme, learning and outreach activities
All of these measures are aimed at benefitting the arts, culture & creative sectors in Kildare and in every county and region of the State.
