Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
44. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline any plans her Department has to repurpose vacant and or derelict commercial sites as creative spaces for artists. [45742/23]
View answerNeither I nor my Department has access to or ownership of any privately owned commercial sites nor any responsibility for them. Any actions relating and derelict commercial sites is a matter my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and for local authorities. My Department has no specific remit in this area.
Urban planning and development policy is primarily a matter for local authorities and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. County and city development plans are drawn up by local authorities in accordance with their functions under the Planning and Development Acts. In this context I understand that the Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028 came into effect in December 2022.
Recent decades have seen the development of a nationwide infrastructure of arts centres including venues overseen by local authorities and supported through my Department’s capital schemes. These arts centres are also supported through capital schemes largely operated by my Department. Capital funding schemes such as Cultural Development Incentives Scheme (CDIS 1994 – 1999), and the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Schemes (ACCESS & ACCESS II 2000 and 2006 respectively) were developed by the Department in the past in order to construct and upgrade existing arts and culture facilities. A number of arts and cultural organisations based in Dublin City Centre were awarded funding under these schemes. Projects supported included the provision of new integrated art centres, theatres and studio space and the refurbishment of existing performance spaces. This investment has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural space throughout the regions.
In recent years a number of further arts & culture capital schemes have been rolled out. The primary focus of these schemes is towards the refurbishment and enhancement of existing arts and culture facilities. Details of expenditure on many of these schemes are published on my Departments website at the following link;
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b1eab-creative-arts-grants-and-funding-previous-schemes/#grants-for-arts-and-culture-infrastructure.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department is working with the National Cultural Institutions (NCI) and the OPW to deliver an ambitious programme of flagship projects that will redevelop and future proof the Institutions for generations to come. Most of these projects are based in Dublin city and include the National Concert Hall redevelopment, along with progressing a number of other ambitious projects including the National Archives, the Abbey Theatre and the National Library. My Department is also progressing appraisals and design at the National Gallery and the Chester Beatty Library.
I am aware of the particular issues around the lack of suitable affordable workspaces for artists in the city of Dublin, and the difficulties in the provision of artistic venues here. On the 22nd June I announced, along with the Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy, details of a €9 million Capital Works programme called Space to Create. The shortage of workspaces is particularly acute in Dublin and Space to Create will see artists provided with turnkey workspaces and/or opportunities to use performance, gallery space and flexible office spaces by Dublin City Council. The Deputy may be also interested to know that the Arts Council has been engaging with Dublin Port Company, on the possibility of creating artists' workspaces in buildings in the port area.
Last month, I allocated €2m funding for the development of the Headquarters of Na Píobairí Uilleann at Henrietta Street, Dublin 1. My colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, allocated further monies for the project, as did Dublin City Council. The development will include a Visitor Centre, Theatre and instrument making training facility.
Together with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, I recently announced five new all-island Arts investment projects, which are being delivered with a total allocation of €7.4m from the Government’s Shared Island Fund. Three of the five projects are based in Dublin city and include capital projects by the Irish Architectural Archive (IAA), the Irish Film Institute (IFI) and the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) -
A new pilot capital support scheme for Arts, Culture and the Night Time Economy will support development of vibrant late night arts and culture scenes in Irish cities particularly in Dublin city, 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.
Under the Creative Ireland Programme (2023-2027), my Department has partnered with other departments and local authorities with substantial investment to deliver thousands of community-led creative projects many in Dublin city.
Under Budget 2024, I secured a total of €367.406m for Arts and Culture, up from €356.982m in 2023. This is an increase of €10.424m equivalent to 3%. Broadly, of the €10m increase, I allocated €4m to the Arts Council, €1.5m to Screen Ireland, €1m to Culture Ireland, and the balance of €3.5m to various other programmes. There has been sustained investment in arts and culture in recent years; I was very pleased to secure this level funding for this important sector in 2024. The Arts Council currently provides programming and revenue supports to a range of arts centres in Dublin city. Record funding of €134m annual funding for the Arts Council will be in place for 2024.
