Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 May 1995

Vol. 452 No. 7

The Arts Plan 1995-1997: Statements (Resumed).

Mr. E. Byrne

I understand Fianna Fáil Members are keenly interested in contributing to this debate. Before the debate adjourned last week I expressed concern that the arts plan seemed to put arbitrary concepts of excellence over the concept of access to the arts. It is interesting to note that last weekend's conference in Cork entitled The Regional Development of the Arts in Ireland examined this question in some detail. If the Minister has not read it already, he will find it interesting.

Unfortunately for many people access to the arts, partly because of the costs involved, can prove difficult. The locations of artistic events are often concentrated in capital cities. Admittance charges and access costs to the venue for major cultural events can be expensive. I argue that access to the arts must be at the lowest possible level. We use the popular term in Europe called "subsidiarity". Subsidiarity in the area of the arts must be put into practice. Undoubtedly we made some advances, for example, there are 21 regional art officers compared with one in 1985. The art plan places a welcome emphasis in regionalisation, which need not mean decentralisation.

I referred to the difficulty for people wishing to attend an artistic event held in the capital city and the costs involved. Regionalisation does not mean dissecting what is available in Dublin but instead two regional bases of the performing arts could be moved. Those of us who represent the capital city are aware that Dublin has been hard hit by decentralisation which has sucked jobs out of the capital has not provided better services to other areas.

Under no circumstances should the Arts Council be moved out of Dublin. I would welcome an assurance from the Minister that no such move is being contemplated. Nevertheless there are still inequities in resourcing between different regions and within them. Even if our major urban centres continue to receive the lion's share of the funding — all the indications are that this will be the case — disadvantaged communities in these centres will continue to exist at the artistic margins. Until we draw those communities into the centre of artistic activity and democratise the practice of art we will continue to have restricted access.

Despite the reservations and the assurances sought from the Minister about the location of the Arts Council the arts plan is largely a good one and it is backed by a singularly committed Minister. Unfortunately the best plans fall down on implementation. We are all aware of marvellous programmes and plans in every sphere of life, which are all wonderful documents in their own right, but the test of the steel of these documents is the commitment to implementation. I am sure the Minister will adopt a hands on approach in the implementation of the plan and ensure that each stage of its implementation involves local communities as well as the professionals.

Mr. Haughey

The purpose of art is communication at the highest level between human beings and artistic and cultural activity should be part of everyday living. In recent years there has been a flourishing of the arts. People of all classes and creeds have become involved. Art has been brought out into the suburbs and into the heart of our communities, all have become involved and this is as it should be. The creativity and buoyancy demonstrates that our society and our culture are in a healthy frame of mind.

The birth of this State was based on a cultural revival. Since then the Irish people generally have a full appreciation of the arts. Today we discuss how we can develop the arts. The Arts Plan 1995-1997, prepared by the Arts Council, is most welcome because it generates discussion and outlines where we need to go in the future. It is welcome also because it brings about a planned approach to the development of the arts. There is no doubt that in times past the development of the arts generally was done on an ad hoc and piecemeal basis. We need more planning to ensure the arts continue to play a central role in ordinary everyday life.

There have been dynamic changes in contemporary Ireland, as the report states, and a growing sophistication in society generally. This is reflected in the arts. The report goes on to mention how our arts infrastructure has developed. It refers to the establishment of new theatres, arts centres and arts festivals generally. We have had the establishment of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the National Concert Hall and many other cultural centres of excellence, all most welcome.

Following the line pursued by Deputy Eric Byrne we need to ensure that art is for everyone, that it is brought out into the communities and that it becomes a part of everyday life for all our citizens. The key role will be played by the local authorities.

Dublin Corporation publishes its own Dublin arts report. There was a general revival and an increase in awareness of our culture and heritage following the millennium celebrations in 1988. This was built on in 1991 with many initiatives when Dublin was European City of Culture. Buildings were restored and floodlit and positive support was given to the arts in the city. An arts officer was appointed and I understand other local authorities also appointed such an officer. Dublin Corporation introduced the very successful artist in residence scheme which involved making trained professional people from the various disciplines available to train, advise and generally encourage people to become involved in the arts.

Our libraries have played an important role in developing the arts. They are situated in the centre of our communities and organise many events. I have been impressed on many occasions when I visited Coolock library to see the range of activities, cultural and artistic, taking place there and to see how people who have had no association with the arts in the past are becoming actively involved and their personalities transformed as a result. That is most welcome. If the Minister were to do only one thing to encourage the arts it should be to give the libraries every facility and support because that is how we will get arts to the people.

The year 1997 will mark the centenary of the publication of the world famous gothic horror novel Dracula written by Bram Stoker who was born at 15 The Crescent, Clontarf. A number of suggestions have been advanced as to how we should commemorate this very important anniversary. Bram Stoker wrote 11 novels and a myriad of shorter fiction and non-fiction works and made a huge contribution to the promotion of drama in Ireland. Nevertheless, he has never been truly honoured here. His masterpiece, Dracula, has enjoyed huge sales throughout the world. Stoker's influence on the film world is almost incalculable. To date almost 700 films have been based on the novel Dracula— the whole world is Stoker's audience. There are Dracula and Stoker clubs, societies, museums and collections of memorabilia throughout the world. A number of commemorative events are being planned in Romania, including a world Dracula congress — they are obviously pursuing the Transylvania connection. An Post is also planning to issue a commemorative stamp. I make the parochial point that we should honour that centenary and I am sure the Minister has some ideas for commemorating that world famous novelist.

Mr. S. Ryan

We will send the Deputy.

Mr. Haughey

How would it be if I went to Transylvania?

On the role of the Office of Public Works, with which my party Leader dealt in his speech, I have the highest respect for the experience, professionalism and sensitivity of that concern. Its officials have done magnificent work here in recent years and have transformed our heritage by their restoration work. I regret that the Office of Public Works seems to be under attack from an elite group in Ireland today, and that brings me to the role of interpretative centres. I will put my cards on the table and say that I believe in their role in interpreting our heritage and in their secondary role of promoting tourism. I supported the Mullaghmore, Luggala and Boyne Valley interpretative centres. I recognise that there are people who do not support the concept of interpretative centres. However, I see many of the famous landmarks here as being accessible only to an elite, educated people associated with unversities and natives from other countries who choose to settle here. We need to have much wider participation by ordinary people and we must enable them to learn about our heritage landmarks.

The decision on the interpretative centres was a mistake and a waste of public money. I have no doubt that many local people are extremely concerned about that because of the consequences for tourism and employment potential. I condemn the elitist approach to our heritage. Our culture and our heritage should be accessible to everybody, and interpretative centres are the way to do that. There are a number of successful interpretative centres in the country. I am familiar with the one in Dunquin in west Kerry and I understand there is another very successful one at the Céide Fields in County Mayo. It may be that The Irish Times was too late in discovering that work on these centres had commenced and was not in a position to organise a coherent campaign objecting to them. Unfortunately, some interpretative centres did come to the notice of The Irish Times sooner rather than later. We need to encourage the building of interpretative centres because it is a mistake to have people roaming around major centres of cultural interest with no concept of what they are seeing. People need to be guided and to hear explanations of what they are viewing.

The Temple Bar area was dealt with in detail in the report. Again, I may strike a note of bitterness here. I believe totally in the Temple Bar project but people are beginning to criticise it and generally run it down. This project was in preparation for many years but the political decisions were taken between 1989 and 1991. I wish to pay tribute in particular to Temple Bar Properties and the managing director of that organisation, Laura McGahey. Were it not for her the Temple Bar project would never have seen the light of day. She passionately believed in bringing about a centre of excellence and of cultural activity in the Temple Bar area. She lobbied the corporation, the Lord Mayor, the Taoiseach and various Ministers and was successful in having political action taken. Legislation was passed to ensure that the Temple Bar project proceeded. Many groups campaign for the introduction of legislation, without success, but in this case when the Government was lobbied legislation was introduced within a matter of months.

If it had not been for the efforts of Nora McGahey and the fact that enlightened political decisions were made at the time Temple Bar would still be the location of a bus station and would never have been the successful centre of arts and culture it is today. However, it is now being attacked by the begrudgers who argue that we have lost our way. If one does anything in this country one will be criticised; if we had listened to all the objectors at the beginning nothing would have been done. I pay tribute to all those involved in providing the new facilities in Temple Bar. If there are legitimate complaints about the way the scheme is being operated they should be examined but blind negativity should not be tolerated. I hope that today's political leaders will not fall into that trap.

I wish to raise the issue of place names. There is growing concern that Irish place names are not being used in private and local authority residential developments, that English place names are being used. Aulden Grange, Clare Hall and Swords Manor in my constituency are not of Irish origin, they would be associated more with Tudor England. We need to address this problem seriously. It is possibly a matter for the Department of the Environment to ensure that the local authorities play an active role but I suggest that the Folklore Commission and the Place Names Commission also have a major role to play in this regard. I hope that a mechanism can be put in place to allow this to happen.

I received a note from a constituent in which the situation in Galway is outlined. In Galway when planning permission is sought contact is made with the planners and when the builder becomes involved he is approached by the committee which usually provides a list of ten names from which the builder can make his choice. The unused names are entered into a data bank which can be offered to another person building in the area. The list of names is usually sanctioned in advance by An Post and the corporation representative or by a meeting of the corporation. This system seems to be working effectively in Galway. It is crucial that a mechanism is put in place to ensure that Irish place names continue to be used.

I wish to raise the issue of education which is dealt with in the arts report. It is a matter of great regret that school children, at primary and secondary level, are not familiar with the culture and heritage of their own locality. Perhaps the Minister for Education will tell me if this is changing but it seems that school children will not be taught anything about the places and centres of artistic interest in their locality. On our way to Leinster House every day we pass many unique features about which we know nothing. There is a need to increase the level of awareness of our culture, to ensure that the first interest in the arts in general is shown at parish level and that interest is fostered in local heritage and historical features. The schools have a major role to play in this regard.

The report states that there should be a big celebration and a review in the year 2000 to see how the plan is being implemented and where we should go from there. That would be a welcome move.

Mr. S. Ryan

I am pleased to have this opportunity to make a small contribution to the debate on the arts plan 1995-97. I compliment the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Higgins, for initiating this important plan and securing the support of the Government to publish it, and the hundreds of organisations and individuals who took the time to make a submission. The positive media and public response to date vindicates the Minister's decision and the stance taken by the Government in establishing a special Ministry for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht with a Minister at the Cabinet table.

The findings of the report show that the arts, in their broadest sense, are seen in a positive way by the public. Attendances at arts events jumped from 60 per cent in 1981 to 78 per cent in 1994. Nearly 90 per cent of the population agree that arts activities help to attract tourists to our shores. The findings also show that the public are aware of the potential of the arts sector to create additional employment. It should be noted that at present 21,500 are employed directly in this sector. On the basis of this report it has the potential to create further growth.

These are some of the statistics which outline the potential of the arts. They also confirm the view which has existed for some time that the arts need to be put on a more sound footing in terms of a defined strategy and structure, coordinated approach and adequate funding.

The local authorities have a pivotal role to play in the development of the arts throughout the country. I was flabbergasted to read that at the time of the preparation of the plan 12 local authorities had still to appoint an arts officer. This is unacceptable. Who is responsible for this? I hope the answer is not local public representatives. If any county manager is standing in the way of the development of the arts these tactics should be highlighted and the people concerned removed from office as soon as possible. That is an indication of how strongly I feel about this issue.

This brings me back to the fundamental question of the funding of local authorities. During the years this has been a political hot potato. It must be addressed, particularly if we intend to finance the development of the arts in the respective local authorities. I accept that funding will be made available by the Arts Council as a result of this plan but matching funding will also be required.

I am pleased the Minister for the Environment has set up a commission to report on local authority funding. I appeal to all interested groups — everybody is involved to some extent in the services provided by local authorities — to make a submission on this important issue. Given that all of us in this House, particularly Deputies with a dual mandate, are clearly aware of the under-funding of local government, it is vital to take this issue seriously. I appeal to the Opposition not to play party politics with this matter because there is too much at stake.

I wish to refer to the arts as they relate to young people. During the period of the plan the Arts Council proposes to more than double spending on education of young people and children, from 6 per cent to 15 per cent. This is one of the most positive features of the plan and must be commended, particularly as more than 45 per cent of the population is under 25. In my local authority area of Fingal, 32 per cent of the population are under 15 years of age. This is a startling and challenging statistic. To a certain extent I share the view that the Arts Council has not acknowledged or responded adequately to the needs of the greater Dublin area, particularly the three new council areas of Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown where almost 570,000 people live.

It should be noted that one-third of the country's population live in the greater Dublin area. The people in this area are still endeavouring to come to terms with the implications of the crazy planning decisions taken in the 1970s, which resulted in some people being moved from the inner city to green field environments in County Dublin, areas with no infrastructure, no shops or schools and above all no jobs. Thousands of young people have been brought up in an environment of unemployment with a lack of recreational facilities. In such circumstances can anyone blame people for believing that arts and culture are the prerogative of a certain social class? It is very difficult for arts officers and community activists to push the concept of culture and that daunting challenge must be addressed. I acknowledge, however, that great progress has been made in this area.

The plan confirms that the Arts Council will continue to co-operate with FÁS to maximise the potential of their considerable investment in the arts sector through the development of pilot arts training projects, in-service training and work experience in the arts. The arts squads which were originally operated under the social employment scheme — and recently under the community employment scheme — are of immense benefit in terms of arts awareness within the community. The squads endeavour to promote and develop an awareness of the arts among community groups, youth clubs, drama groups, schools and people with disabilities, through workshops, classes, guidance and support in many artistic disciplines. This concept has been very successful to date for the community as well as artists who enhance their future employment prospects by building on their skill base. Many people in the community are brought into contact with arts for the first time in this way.

In the proposed partnership arrangements there should be much closer liaison between the Arts Council, FÁS and the various sponsors such as local authorities. It is vital to explore ways in which similar programmes can overcome the structured limitations of the community employment scheme, contribute to long term community arts development and secure employment for artists. I am very concerned at the difficulties experienced in recruitment and the extension of the community employment scheme, the cornerstone of the arts squad programme. The summer period is critical for local communities and the arts squads. Plans are put in place and preparations made for festivals, community projects and other activities and if these have to be cancelled there will be much bitterness and disappointment in communities, many of which are areas of disadvantage. Will the Minister intervene to ensure none of these schemes is put at risk as a consequence of lack of funding?

I am pleased the Arts Council in its three year plan proposes to redefine and broaden its involvement in music of all kinds. I welcome the increase in allocation for music from £800,000 to £1,800,000 in 1997. I hope this will facilitate consolidation and development of community based bands — brass, reed, pipe or marching bands — which are very important to communities and the establishment of new bands, particularly in the new development areas. In my constituency of Dublin North there is a great tradition in music and some bands have been established for almost 100 years. From ongoing contact with organisations I can identify a number of specific needs such as assistance in training, purchase of instruments and uniforms and availability of venues for rehearsing.

The replacement of items is very costly — for example, the cost of a replacement uniform for a pipe band is in the region of £350. This puts an intolerable burden on organisations as well as on parents of the children involved. Funding of such activity has not been available in the past from the national lottery. I ask the Minister to bring these issues to the attention of the Arts Council. I hope decisions on applications for funding will be devolved from the Arts Council to the proposed partnership structures.

I wish to comment briefly on the recommendations of the Price Water-house report, the efficiency audit group on the Defence Forces, on proposed cutbacks in the Army School of Music and Army bands. At present there are four bands in the Army with approximately 190 full-time musicians. Throughout the years Army bands have been great ambassadors for the Army and have brought music to people in villages and towns. The EAG report recommends that the number of musicians in the Army should be reduced to 40, effectively, one band. Those recommendations are unacceptable and must be rejected by the Government.

Last year when I was cathaoirleach of Fingal County Council it decided to invite Patrick Mason and the Abbey Players to perform in the local halls throughout that part of the county. The response from the community was encouraging and, hopefully, that type of activity can be developed bringing the theatre and the arts to the people.

There was a reference to the role of public libraries in the arts programme. I commend what has been achieved to date in that area in terms of permanent and mobile libraries throughout the country. I hope that money can be made available in the context of this plan to aprove an application for a permanent library service in Skerries which has been on the table for ten years given the size of the area and the need for that facility.

Regarding the capital programme under the plan, I wish to refer to two projects. The new county council areas around Dublin have not been adequately catered for. I ask the Minister and the Arts Council to consider favourably a grant application for the restoraton of St. Maur's Church in my constituency. Great controversy surrounded that project some years ago, but the local people got together and carried out restoration work. That building could be used as a regional cultural auditorium for the Fingal area, as an arts centre to develop arts in the region and for concerts, recitals, choral evenings and musicals. I hope the Arts Council will consider allocating funding for that facility. A request has been made from Portmarnock community school for financial support for the provision of a theatre to specifically develop the concept of arts and culture in the north Dublin region. I also ask the Minister to consider that request.

Most of us, as public representatives, will have received a letter from the National Association of Youth Drama, an umbrella body representing a large proportion of organisations, groups and individuals who use drama and theatre as a means of working with young people. That association has asked us to refer to a number of points, to support the overall thrust of the arts plan which is to improve access to and participation in the arts; to continue the process of developing the arts infrastructure at a regional level and to argue that the increase in funding for educating young people is critical. It acknowledges that commitment in the plan and asks us to support the development of the cultural health of the nation. Most of what it asked us to refer to is contained in the plan and I hope all Deputies will support it. The plan is a great start and the commitments in it must be met. It is all very well to have a fine plan that looks very well on paper, but decisions have to be taken to carry through on the commitments in it.

People are looking to the Minister and the Government to ensure that the commitments contained in the plan are implemented. The Minister has my confidence in that regard and I look forward to the provision of the plan being implemented.

Mr. Hilliard

I welcome many aspects of this new three years arts plan and I hope it will be successful in the long term. I hope it will generate more interest and that many new projects will be developed as a result. Tourism is an important national revenue earner and this plan and the arts have a major role to play in that area. In the past the arts were deemed to be only for the elite and access to them was limited. The arts are now identified as a major money earner for national revenue and can be a great employer also.

I listened to the Minister's opening speech in the Dáil last week, I may have misheard him, but I was surprised to hear him say that the previous Government had neglected the arts. His party was part of that Government and those remarks are not justified. At one stage during the Minister's speech I was going to interrupt to tell him that he should not praise his plan too much because self-praise is no praise. One would think nothing had been done for the arts until the Minister and his Fine Gael partners came into Government. I remember the former Taoiseach, Charles J. Haughey, being bitterly criticised by the then Opposition when he took the initiative to refurbish Government Buildings because of the cost involved. He also introduced tax concessions for writers and artists living and working in Ireland. The Minister has been most unkind to Fianna Fáil, I do not know whether that was intentional, but I am inclined to think it was although I may be biased being a Fianna Fáil Deputy. That was my interpretation of the Minister's attitude when he gave his address. It was as if all credit was due to him and to nobody else. I do not know whether he purposely decided not to acknolwedge the role played by Fianna Fáil in the arts in the past.

I am pleased to see the Minister return. No doubt he will hear of my recent comments. I was somewhat disappointed with his opening remarks, when I got the impression no one else here ever did anything for arts until the Minister appeared out of the blue, that arts and the Minister are ascending on a booster rocket to the moon and that Fianna Fáil had not bothered with the arts in the past.

Mr. M. Higgins

I have heard all of this debate except for the past ten minutes.

Mr. Hilliard

The Arts Council must adopt a radical approach to arts in general. We do not know how many modifications were made to the original plan which was ready for publication last summer. Means should be devised for displaying individuals' arts and crafts at convenient centres nationwide if possible for purchase. There is insufficient Government encouragement for such endeavours.

Some European Union regulations now in force prohibit the display of certain goods unless they comply with specified hygiene requirements, something the Minister should investigate since most of our arts and culture is located in rural areas. While I know our towns and cities also have their culture, it is somewhat different and there is a wealth of arts, culture, music and song to be found in rural areas. Libraries and other community centres should be availed of to promote arts activities which would be of enormous benefit to many.

I am aware that theatre generally is experiencing enormous difficulty in promoting various productions, because of high costs. In addition, RTE does not appear to be interested in commissioning or purchasing more plays for public viewing. I, my wife and family visit the theatre from time to time and we have been privileged to have attended some outstanding live performances, whether at our national theatre or local parish hall. It is heartening to witness full houses while there are so many other competing distractions, such as television. I want to see business people generally take a greater interest in the theatre, local drama and variety shows. I appreciate the generosity of some business people who should receive some tax concessions for supporting cultural activities, particularly in rural areas, thereby encouraging greater investment in artistic activities. While acknowledging the financial support theatre already receives through grant aid another means of encouraging participation in the arts would be to furnish free passes to performances to employees of business people.

Most young people are enormously interested in music, many in Irish music. Therefore, I welcome the Arts Council's proposal to grant awards to composers and to provide composer apprenticeships. The Government must also encourage students of music through scholarships.

There is a huge market for the arts beyond Ireland. Since we have excellent accommodation services, we should invite artists from the United Kingdom and the Continent to Ireland, offering them attractive packages and incentives. Many of our people who attend theatre performances and other shows in the United Kingdom are facilitated in so doing, whereas we do not have corresponding facilities. In that respect I should like to see Bord Fáilte and others highlight drama, music and song events and performances here. Much emphasis is being placed on sporting activities, such as golf and other sports, by Bord Fáilte but not sufficient emphasis is being placed on arts. The Minister should put that point forcibly to Bord Fáilte and provide the necessary financial support.

Film production is one of the most important aspects of the arts having much potential for employment and export sales. We are doing very well in this sphere at present, with rural regions being fully supported. I welcome the recommendation of the Arts Council to support the Cork and Galway film festivals along with resource centres in Waterford and Galway. There have been many very talented, successful Irish actors and actresses and successful films. Greater emphasis should be placed on this sector in the future. Indeed the Minister is to be complimented on this sphere having assumed greater importance in the latter part of 1994. I wish film production much success for the remainder of 1995 and future years.

I understand also that the Arts Council is engaging in a review of the activities and operations of various arts centres nationwide, of which there are 14. Arts centres should be extended to disadvantaged areas. The Minister, coming from Galway, will readily appreciate the existence of a wealth of arts, culture and music in rural areas. I hope this plan will not concentrate on a few growth centres, which appears to be the case. I note the Minister has nodded his head negatively which I assume is an indication that the plan will apply throughout the country.

I also welcome the agreement reached between the Arts Council and the Combat Poverty Agency to establish working groups to provide greater access to the arts for the 20 to 30 per cent of our population classified as disadvantaged. The Arts Council is seeking £26 million annually up to the end of the century to achieve its goals outlined in this plan. Its allocation amounted to £13.2 million in 1994 and £16.25 million in 1995. I earnestly hope the Government and the Minister will be able to meet the financial requirements of the Arts Council during the operation of this plan.

I have been disappointed that there has been no recognition of Gaeltacht Rath Cairn, Contae na Mí — which could be developed into a major Irish arts centre — and it appears that the Arts Council and the Minister place no importance on its potential as a venue. Will the Minister take particular note of the need for its development? As many people visit Gaeltacht Rath Cairn each year, the Minister should give serious consideration to providing, at the minimum, a television studio to record interviews and so on for viewing on the proposed Teilifís na Gaeltachta. Many Irish speaking people visit Rath Cairn which is a major promotional centre for our native language. It is crucial that this centre be clearly identified or aligned with Teilifís na Gaeltachta so that interviews held there can be broadcast on that channel.

While regional development of the arts is welcome rather than the Minister deciding which regions should qualify, he should allow local interests decide whether their respective regions should or should not be chosen and which sector of the arts it seeks to develop. That is another reason for strongly recommending the development of Gaeltacht Rath Cairn, given its enormous interest in the overall development of the arts, warranting positive support.

There was much disappointment among the arts community generally when the Government in its Estimates decided to grant an increase of 7 per cent only to the Arts Council although granting an overall increase of 20 per cent within the relevant departmental Estimate. I have every confidence the Minister will correct this position and that the necessary funding will be made available to the Arts Council to carry out its programme over the next three years. It is important this matter is clarified sooner rather than later; otherwise, the three year plan could become a farce.

Meath is an historical and archaeological county and has much to offer people at home and abroad. I am surprised, therefore, it was not mentioned in the three year arts plan. The county is only a short distance from Dublin city and Belfast. It is adjacent to Dublin ports and airports and should be a material base for arts development. I wish the Boyne Valley Interpretative Centre every success in the future as it is the foundation stone of the future success of tourism in County Meath.

Meath County Council has initiated proposals for a major tourism plan for County Meath. I want the Minister to note the limited funding that is made available to local authorities, especially in County Meath, to create a better living standard for their people. We in County Meath cannot achieve our targets without proper Government financial support. There are many tourist attractions in the county, such as the Hill of Slane, the Hill of Tara from where the High Kings of Ireland came, Bective Abbey, St. John's Castle in Trim, the ancient sites at Clonard, Old-castle and Nobber, the Cross of Kells and many more. I want the Minister to identify County Meath as a special place of arts, culture and tourism, something he has not done in this report. In placing more emphasis on developing the Battle of the Boyne site we could achieve greater peace and friendship with our neighbours in the North. Those trying to develop that site, half way between Dublin and Belfast, should be given more assistance by the Minister.

Our art and treasure collections should be exhibited around the country as many people cannot afford to travel to Dublin to view them. This would certainly benefit our young people and the Arts Council shall place more emphasis on this. Consideration should be given to moving the Book of Kells back to its roots and, while I have made requests in this regard, I understand the difficulties and cost involved in preserving the book. However, there are many other objects of art and culture that could be exhibited in rural areas.

Scurlogstown cultural group in County Meath is an excellent voluntary team of local people who are prepared to give their time freely to produce pageants showing how people lived here in the past. They take part in St. Patrick's Day parades and so on in their local area. Such groups should be given more support and attention.

I have studied the work of the Arts Council to date and wish it continued success as it has a major responsibility in making a success of the arts. The Minister should encourage our people, young and old, to identify our art qualities and to achieve their goals. I hope the Minister will then provide the necessary funding for the success of their ideas and projects.

Mr. Bree

I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate on the arts plan. I pay tribute to my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Higgins, who, since he was first elected to Dáil Éireann has campaigned for a planned strategic approach to the development of the arts.

The Minister and the Labour Party made this one of our main priorities when we commenced negotiations following the general election of November 1992 and we were successful in ensuring that a commitment to such a development was included in the Programme for a Partnership Government. That programme stated:

In order to ensure the fullest development of our cultural life, and to untap the potential that exists in abundance throughout Ireland, the Arts Council will be asked to operate on a co-ordinated 3-yearly plan for funding of the arts. As part of that planning, there will be a requirement for improved co-ordination between capital expenditure (e.g. national lottery) and arrangements for the current funding of arts projects.

Following his appointment as Ireland's first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Higgins requested the Arts Council to draw up such a plan. The commitment of the former partnership Government was further consolidated in the programme, A Government of Renewal, and recognition was given to the many advances in the arts which were made during the Minister's first two year term in the partnership Government. The previous speaker obviously misinterpreted his original submission in this regard.

The new Programme for Government states:

The momentum achieved in the cultural sector over the past two years will be continued. It is now accepted that support and encouragement for the contemporary arts and the protection of our natural and built heritage are central issues of social and economic significance.

The Three Year Plan 1995-97 prepared in consultation between the Arts Council and the Dept of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht will be the basis for a programme of action.

In essence, the political decision to establish a Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the decision to appoint a Minister to speak for the area as a full member of Cabinet recognised the importance of arts, culture and the Gaeltacht and the Irish language and heritage as fundamental parts of our life. Those areas were also recognised as an integral part of the policy strategies necessary to create jobs for Irish people.

The appointment of a socialist of the calibre of the Minister, Deputy Higgins, as the first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has revolutionised his whole approach to this area. His passionate and energetic commitment to the arts, to culture and to Gaelic Ireland is universally recognised and admired.

When he opened this debate, the Minister clearly emphasised that the arts plan was not formulated in an exclusive, elitist or insular manner. He pointed out that the Arts Council drew from the views of a broad cross section of society and, in that light, the plan can be viewed as a comprehensive evaluation of the arts and their requirements for now and the future.

All of us are aware of the widespread public consultation undertaken by the Arts Council and its detailed discussions with the Minister's Department in the preparation of the plan. As a starting point, the Arts Council's initial statement of intent correctly pointed out that everyone has an entitlement to meaningful access to and participation in the arts. I have no doubt that as this plan is implemented over the next three years it will assist in encouraging real participation in the arts in terms of availability and access, with particular reference to young people, children and the disabled. It will also take into account social as well as geographical barriers.

In preparing the plan the Arts Council, as a starting point, took a broad vision for the arts in Ireland. Through its process of consultation and research the council was in a position to confirm that the arts are regarded positively and are considered important, not simply in isolation but in comparison with other set values with which they are juxtaposed or against which they have to compete for funding. It found that 73 per cent of people agree that arts education is as important as science education and that 66 per cent feel as much importance should be attached to providing arts amenities as is given to providing sports amenities.

It found that there was an overall increase in attendance at arts events from 60 per cent of the population in 1981 to 78 per cent in 1994. It is important to point out that it also found that 74 per cent feel that the lack of arts education at school is a significant obstacle to developing an interest in the arts. With this type of positive support for the arts among the general public, the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the Arts Council were in a position to begin preparing for the drafting of a detailed and realistic arts plan that would embrace the needs of the people and that would seek to address the many years of neglect of the arts by successive Governments.

I welcome the fact that the plan suggests an area based approach to the development of the arts, committing the Arts Council to the creation of centres of energy and excellence at local, regional and national level. This approach fits in with the Department's own policy priorities. It will help take account of the organic nature of arts activity and will seek to build on it through strategic partnerships in association with national and local planning agencies.

The proposed establishment of five strategic centres of population in the plan, which includes Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and my native Sligo, to counterbalance the highly centralised Irish administration system and in pursuit of equity of provision is most welcome.

The establishment of priority zones, which include County Leitrim in my constituency, is also most welcome. County Leitrim, and the other counties designated as priority zones, have already been identified as areas being in particular need and lacking in provision. While County Leitrim has a thriving local theatre in Carrigallen — the Corn Mill Theatre — and an ever growing arts community, there is no doubt but that investment and planning is required in the county for further development. Investment in priority zones will allow for a planned and integrated scheme of new development, arts programmes and the co-ordination and focusing of Arts Council schemes and projects in education and community arts as well as arts form events and programmes available nationally. It will also allow for prioritisation with arts development organisations in each arts form, such as Music Network, CAFE, Poetry Ireland, etc. to focus resources, where possible, on the priority counties.

The provision of additional arts officers and arts education organisers and the further development of small locally based community arts projects and artists in residence schemes in such areas will help to address the imbalance. An area based approach to planning is one in which the needs of a given area are addressed by developing integrated policies and services across all sectors. Availing of the cluster of diverse organisations in a given geographical area, it will seek to maximise benefits through a planned co-operative approach, combining elements of bottom-up and top-down activity and open to opportunity in the wider social context.

Recent research commissioned by the Arts Council strongly supports the case for local arts provision. It is worth noting, for instance, the 54 per cent of the population rarely travel more than 20 miles to an arts event. Local arts weeks figure quite importantly on the scale of attendance at arts activities. A total of 71 per cent of people indicated that they learned about arts events from local press, radio and newsletters, making this by far the most important source of information. When asked to rate priorities for spending on the arts, the public placed their strongest emphasis on the need to support local, amateur and community based activity.

It should be noted that an area based approach is not new to the Arts Council, which has already directed schemes and programmes at local, county and regional levels. However, it is obvious from the content of the document that during the course of the plan, the council will develop a more deliberate and concerted approach to action in this area with an emphasis on planning in consort with other statutory agencies, based on improved information and research and a particular focus on initiatives which offer appropriate strategic support to the development of local amateur and community based activity.

It is patently obvious that an area based approach can only be enacted through partnerships with local authorities and other bodies, and through interlinked policies in community arts, arts centres and arts festivals. The fact that the Arts Council has already requested each local authority to prepare a three year arts development plan, and, indeed, has indicated that it will assist local authorities to produce such a plan, is most welcome. The document clearly points out that formal funding for such partnerships will be negotiated on the basis of the county arts plans, each of which will be expected to provide details on the needs of the arts at county and sub-county levels. The Arts plan anticipates that, where appropriate, the transfer of certain functions, including funds for the funding of festivals and local community arts groups, from the Arts Council to local authorities, will be part of these formal agreements. In addition, the Arts Council will assist those local authorities wishing to support the individual artist.

Obviously, to trigger arts development, the Arts Council will initially focus on an area based approach in the counties in the priority zone which rightly include counties Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, Donegal and other counties in the midlands. The development of arts centres, of which there are now 14, will also be important in implementing the plan. The distinguished characteristic of arts centres is that they offer a range of services across a multiplicity of art forms. Such centres can be described as buildings where different art forms coexist, each centre providing a point of access to local, national and international arts; support for the development of art and artists and opportunities for participation and education in the arts.

Arts centres have developed defining characteristics according to the stage of development they have reached. While all the arts centres have suffered from under-resourcing, each centre has, nevertheless, developed its own individual ethos within this multi-disciplinary framework.

I am aware the Arts Council has pursued an active policy to develop arts centres around the country to provide such services on a nationwide basis, and while the long established centres such as the Project in Dublin are very well developed, it will also be recognised that newer arts centres have been established in response to the needs of particular arts constituencies including the Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda, the West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen and, of course, the Model Arts Centre in Sligo. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to those involved in the Sligo centre and, indeed, to support their submission for Structural Funds for the purchase and refurbishment of the building they are currently using, which is the former Model School in Sligo.

The Model School is the best opportunity that Sligo will ever have of developing a major artistic and cultural centre. When the Arts Centre Committee took it over three years ago, it was deteriorating rapidly. This deterioration has been halted and the redecoration and constant and varied use has shown the potential of the building. Its internal layout makes it ideal for use as an art gallery. It is capable of housing the largest touring exhibitions in addition to being able to show at the one time a number of smaller exhibitions. The floor area of the different rooms make the building very suitable for both large and small literary readings, music recitals, lectures, workshops, etc. In addition, four artists have studio space in the building.

As part of its ongoing development as a regional arts centre, the Model Arts Centre has also embarked on a series of Outreach programmes with the assistance of the Arts Council. The centre's policy is to show contemporary work in all art forms and to encourage the arts at local level. Its aim is to make the Model Arts Centre a thriving creative nucleus for locals and tourists alike. During the past few years there have been readings in the centre by writers and poets from Ireland and abroad such as Dermot Healy, Evelyn Conlon, Colm Toibín. Brian Leydon, Rita Ann Higgins, Padraig Fiaic, Tom Morgan, Paul Durcan. Nuala Ní Dhomnaill, John Kavanagh, Macdara Woods. Individual musicians and groups from at home and abroad have performed in the centre and the works of artists and sculptors, including Michael Farrell, Paki Smith, Michael Mulcahy, John Behan, Bill Woodrow, Barrie Cooke and Charlie Tyrrell have been exhibited.

The Sligo Model Arts Centre is one of the most outstanding of its kind in Ireland. With a vibrant committee and a thriving arts community supporting it, I have every confidence that it will further grow and develop as a flagship of excellence. However, such centres must have security of funding and commitment for fixed periods as their continued reliance on FÁS community employment schemes is unacceptable. Therefore, I welcome the provisions in the Arts Plan for additional funding for the regions. I thank the Arts Council for its continued support for so many projects in my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim. The funding for the Model Arts Centre, the Blue Raincoat Theatre Company, the Sligo Community Arts Festival and many touring exhibitions is very much appreciated. Hardly a week goes by without an exhibition of painting or sculpture opening in Sligo in the Model Arts Centre, the Sligo Arts Gallery, the Taylor Gallery or the Municipal Gallery. The visual arts are appreciated in the north west region.

Sligo is second to none for traditional music and is the birthplace of many of the greats in that music. Our native music, song and dance is thriving thanks to the magnificent work carried out in the area by Comhaltas Ceoiltoirí Éireann. It is worth noting that Sligo acted as host to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for three successive years in the past decade and no doubt we will see a return of that major cultural festival to Sligo in the not too distant future. We can hardly talk about the development of arts and culture without referring to the local feiseanna. Feis Cheoil and Feis Shligigh are institutions in Sligo and the north west and have helped ensure that generation after generation have grown up with a healthy attitude towards the arts and our heritage.

I paid tribute to the Arts Council for its assistance to many groups and individuals in the community but I feel obliged to question some of its actions. The Sligo International Choral Festival commenced in 1988 with ten or 12 choirs participating and with small audiences and minimal prizes. Last year 40 choirs participated in the Sligo International Choral Festival, eight from overseas, and is now recognised as the second largest choral festival in the country. Yet, the Arts Council has consistently refused to assist it with funding whereas it funds a choral festival in the south. I understand that the Arts Council is in the process of changing its policy in that regard, which is welcome. However, I appeal to the Arts Council to review its decision on funding for the Sligo Choral Festival this year to allow grant-aid to be provided for the choral festival this year when Sligo celebrates the 750th anniversary of its founding. Criticism must be levelled at the Arts Council also for its failure to adhere to its commitment to provide grant aid of £175,000 for the refurbishment of the Hawks Well Theatre in Sligo.

When the major refurbishment and extension project for the Hawks Well Theatre was under threat earlier this year, the Minister, Deputy Higgins, came to the rescue with INTERREG funding of £344,000. I place on record my thanks and the thanks of the people of my constituency to the Minister for his support and assistance in this matter. The INTERREG grant was provided on the basis of other funding agencies putting up separate allocations. The Department of Tourism and Trade, Bord Fáilte, the Regional Tourism Organisation, IFI and the Arts Council were also committed to providing funding. It was with dismay that we in Sligo learned last week that the Arts Council had cut its proposed grant-aid of £175,000 to £100,000. This could well lead to a further delay in construction work commencing on site. I appeal to the Arts Council to reconsider its decision and stand by its earlier commitment to provide £175,000 for the project.

The Hawks Well Theatre is the jewel in the crown of the arts community in the north west. In saying that I pay tribute also to all involved in the development of the Factory Performing Space in Sligo, a centre with which the Minister is also familiar. The Arts Council has been more than generous with its ongoing funding of the Hawks Well Theatre over the years. I fully recognise that without the ongoing subsidies from the Arts Council, the theatre could not have survived. It is indeed unfortunate that this recent incident has marred the relationship but, with good will, I am hopeful a resolution will be found.

I have drifted from the substantive matter but I welcome the plan and pay tribute to all involved in developing it. It marks a significant breakthrough in the way in which the State proposes to address its responsibilities to the promotion of the contemporary arts and I have every confidence that Cabinet members will lend it their full support when it comes before them for consideration.

Mr. Lawlor

All members welcome the publication of the Arts Plan 1995-97. This comprehensive document signposts the many challenges and opportunities in the arts sector. The original plan entitled A Vision for Arts, by the then chairman for the Arts Council did not materialise as originally intended and this palan surfaced.

I am concerned about the identification of areas with specific activities under the overall umbrella of the arts. Will local areas of excellence, as proposed in this plan, not create a great difficulty for areas other than the designated areas which have the potential for excellence? There is the possibility of creating a number of problems as well as endeavouring to foster excellence in various sectors. I believe this measure has the potential to deny areas that are not designated locations of excellence from developing their expertise in other areas of endeavour. Perhaps the Minister will address this issue when summing up.

One tends to call on practical experience when discussing subjects such as the Arts Plan. During the past few minutes Members expressed their frustration that groups involved in the arts in there area face a financial crisis. An excellent report, the Dublin Arts report was produced in conjunction with the millennium. It was funded and supported by the local authority and it devised an action plan for what was needed in the greater Dublin area. It is an indictment of those responsible for the arts, the Arts Council and the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht that some of its major recommendations have not been acted on.

The once off funding from Europe will allow us put infrastructure in place. The report states that the population of County Dublin is nearly one sixth that of the country. If one relates that to investment and support at local authority level and the implementation of a realistic arts programme one will see there is an unequal distribution of resources.

A protest against the disastrous shortfall in the FÁS scheme is being made in Ballyfermot today. The theory and the reality are vastly different. In 1992 £10.1 million was allocated for the arts and as a result of the Henley studies in the 90s the Ministry which the Minister now holds at Cabinet was identified as a high priority. For several years various Taoisigh held responsibility for the arts but it is now focused in a ministry which the then Government created. We must use wisely the resources being given on a once off basis and not scatter them too thinly. Prague and other European capitals will probably benefit from such resources from here on.

The Arts Council reviewed the operation of the 14 arts centres. The Project Arts Centre in Dublin set up in 1967 has not been properly funded although it is a cornerstone of endeavour and effort.

Existing organisations must be supported. There are many arts, drama, film, music and dance groups. We must encourage the holding of festivals and programmes for young people. We must ensure that the arts are not elitist but are available to everyone. In satellite towns such as Tallaght, Clondalkin, Lucan and Blanchardstown infrastructure and facilities are limited. If the Minister wishes to make a quantum leap forward in that area he must address that aspect.

I welcome the Minister's announcement regarding the music industry. Given our small population the number of talented people is to be applauded. I welcome the recent appointment of the group to look at the industry.

We must present the new emerging Ireland in such a way as to make it attractive to tourists coming from North America, from mainland Europe and the UK. We have a wonderful cultural background and we must develop facilities which will make us an attractive location. We look to the Minister to ensure that in the arts plan and more particularly in the capital programme, such facilities will be developed. We will be competing for tourists with the Eastern European countries. I was at the opening of the new facility in Finnstown House Hotel in Lucan by the Minister of State, Deputy Kenny. He stated that four million tourists will visit Ireland this year. The city of Prague will attract in the region of 80 million tourists. The number has grown from 30 million with the collapse of the Berlin wall and it surpasses the number visiting Paris. Czechoslovakia has low cost restaurants and hotel accommodation and that together with the magnificence of the cities, its art and culture makes it extremely attractive to tourists. That is what we will have to compete with.

Deputy Hilliard raised the matter of the site of the Battle of the Boyne and the potential that exists for providing a major facility there. That would be a major attraction for foreign tourists and would also be a recognition of our tortured past and the difficulties in the various communities on the island. Those in the North of Ireland would see us as being big enough to recognise the history and importance of the site. The facility could be a cultural centre or an historical one. The Minister might consider setting up a working group with the local authority to bring forward plans and recommendations.

If millions of pounds were not wasted in other areas which have been well researched something more productive could be done about interpretative centres. At a time of limited resources it is particularly difficult to get such projects off the ground. Deputy de Valera is more familiar with the position in the Burren but the provision of such facilities should not lead to controversy. In Glenveagh Park, Donegal the Office of Public Works without controversy built an excellent interpretative centre in a most sensitive area of that wonderful facility. It is well designed and architecturally acceptable, an excellent example of what could and should have been achieved in the other controversial locations. It is a monument to success and a fine facility in a sensitive amenity area.

The foundation stones for the development of the arts were laid by the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. I cannot help but think that the Minister's role is being overpoliticised and that great expectations are being created. In 1979 at a parliamentary party meeting when the then Minister for Economic Planning and Development, Martin O'Donoghue, was outlining his proposals for a White Paper which would ensure full employment by 1982, the late Deputy Callanan remarked to me that it would be better to first achieve this and then talk about it. Consideration should perhaps be given to less publicity and more practical action.

Many people were disappointed at the level of funding secured by the Minister and efforts have been made to rectify this. This problem has not been fully addressed and the Minister should outline the capital investment programme for the arts. As the Arts Council has rightly pointed out, the feasibility of a national capital programme is entirely dependent on the availability of resources from the Government or the EU. It is not sensible that the already hard pressed Arts Council should undertake major capital developments out of its own resources in the absence of special funding. The plan outlines what needs to be achieved but it must be recognised that this is a much more complex matter than the plan suggests. Adequate funding is required to implement the recommendations in the plan.

While the programme gives a broad outline of the development of the arts in the coming years, it fails to fully address the problems of elitism which are still evident in the wider community. The Arts Council must adopt a radical approach to the development of the arts for the wider community. One could be critical and say that there are too many ministerial fingerprints on the plan. While this is welcome in some respects, it appears that this area has been excessively politicised, if it was the responsibility of a Fianna Fáil Minister there would be howls of criticism. However, we will be constructive and positive in our approach. We do not know how many modifications were made to the plan which the Arts Council believes was ready for publication much earlier. Ideally, the plan should move arts to a new platform on which further progress can be made, and when Fianna Fáil returns to power we will ensure that this is done.

Central to the success of the three year plan is the willingness of the Government to provide the necessary funding. There is much dissatisfaction at the level of funding provided for theatres. I wish the Minister every success with the plan and I hope he will take more action and reduce the level of publicity, thereby ensuring that the recommendations are implemented and the difficulties on the financial side fully addressed.

Mr. M. Kitt

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I congratulate the Minister on the publication of this plan and I hope he succeeds in getting the necessary funding for it. I support the points made by Deputy de Valera, the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Arts and Culture. Deputy Lawlor referred to the role played by the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, in the development of the arts. His commitment to the refurbishment of many of our public buildings is very well known. For example, he was responsible for the refurbishment of the Seanad by the Office of Public Works.

I wish to refer to the role of local authorities in the development of the arts. More emphasis should have been placed in the plan on the role of local authorities in this area. Will the Minister say if a determined effort will be made to encourage local authorities to employ arts officers? As I understand it, the Arts Council provides 50 per cent of the funding for arts officers and in most cases the local authorities make up the balance. However, given the size of the county in Galway the funding is divided between Galway Corporation and Galway County Council, both of which make a 25 per cent contribution. This gives rise to questions about the effectiveness of having one arts officer in the second largest county in the country.

The County Galway Arts Committee supports the many festivals and companies in Galway city. However, to my knowledge Galway Corporation does not make any contribution to events in the county. In other words, there is a flourishing arts scene in Galway city — for example, the arts and film festivals, the Druid theatre company Macnas and Pléaracha Connemara — but there is not the same enthusiasm for the arts in east Galway. As a member of the County Galway Arts Committee I always support the efforts made by Galway County Council and Galway Corporation — people from all over the county are interested in the events held in Galway city. Funding is normally provided to the Druid theatre company on the basis that it tours Galway county as well as other centres in the western region.

The Minister referred to a three year plan which will include designation for counties such as Offaly, Tipperary, Roscommon and Laois, counties which border north and east Galway. I hope this area will not be forgotten when the other counties are designated. The purists might say we should not be talking about money and that somehow we should get on and do the job but, unfortunately, money must be provided. Yeats spoke about fumbling in the greasy till and Páidin's ha'pence and Biddy's pence in another context. However, we have to get the money.

I am pleased that for the past three years the Galway arts committee has been able to get sponsorship. I do not know if this happens in other areas. Area awards have been presented in the county and an overall county award was won recently by Pléaracha Connemara, a very fine group. On the question of the arts in Galway, there are nearly two Galways: the Galway city excellence award and in County Galway a pressing need for more help and support from the arts officer.

When I started to teach, the arts were mentioned in all the training and in-service training courses. Integration was the great buzzword at the time and the arts were always regarded as an excellent way of showing what the education system was all about. I would like to see more emphasis on the arts.

The new primary school curriculum of 1970 put great emphasis on the arts but it does not appear to be given the same recognition in our education system today. For example, the only western college that has a diploma course in arts, textiles and fine arts is Galway Regional Technical College. Perhaps a degree course could be provided there and the type of work done by the regional technical college in Letterfrack could also be done in other parts of County Galway. For example, there is a wealth of musical talent in places such as Tuam and New Inn where the Music Matters group, under Mrs. Máire McLoughlin, are doing excellent work but we cannot get the interest of any of the experts in this field. I hope this can be rectified in the coming years. The Minister will be aware that people in the western region are anxious to have a school of music, even though Limerick is designated as the centre of music — I pay tribute to Michéal Ó Suilleabhan on the great work he is doing in Limerick. Galway has been asking for a school of music for a long time and I hope it can be provided. I would be grateful if the Minister would meet the Galway arts committee when we could discuss many of these matters with him.

Any young artist who can win a county or a national award will have his confidence boosted and will have something worthwhile to put on his curriculum vitae. We need to promote awards for our artists which, in the past has been done through sponsorship. I hope the Minister can help in other ways. Whenever I write to the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht I receive a reply to the effect that he does not have discretionary funds in his Department and that most of the funding comes from the Arts Council. The only problem is that the Arts Council usually provides funding for the professional bodies and there is little support for amateurs and community groups. If these groups knew where they could get funding it would be a great help. I have known groups who have received funding from the vocational education committees and the county enterprise boards, and that is welcome. Most groups throughout the country consider that the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht should provide some funding. It is interesting to note that the Department of Foreign Affairs provides funding for cultural and heritage matters. Is it not time that funding was provided by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht? The funding provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs is given mostly to groups who go on tour to Europe or elsewhere but I have noticed in recent years there is little funding for our traditional musicians and traditional Irish dancers. The cultural and heritage fund should be assigned to the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. I ask the Minister to make a good fight for it and I will support him in any way I can so that the funding is under the aegis of his Department rather than the Department of Foreign Affairs. The amateurs and community groups are not getting sufficient funding.

I have felt for a number of years that our national theatre, the Abbey Theatre, should be involved in touring. The Committee of Public Accounts, of which I was a member, visited the Abbey on one occasion and discussed the question of touring. The answer one always gets from the Abbey is that there are no suitable venues. That is nonsense and the Minister knows that. There are excellent venues and many halls have been refurbished beautifully. The town hall in Ballinasloe, which has beautiful tiered seating, comes to mind. Many of the Abbey productions could be done at regional venues. In the past the Abbey Theatre has sent down a one man or a one woman show and have said they were not successful. We must get back to the full national theatre productions as in the past. I ask the Minister to discuss this matter with the Abbey who have had many representations on this issue. They would be well supported if their particular productions were performed in the provinces.

I wish to refer to local radio which has been addressed by the Minister. One of the great achievements of local radio in the arts area has been the specialist programmes on Irish music. The local station, Galway Bay FM, has won at least one award for its programme "The Half-Door", a traditional Irish music programme, presented by Ita O'Kelly. I congratulate it on its achievement and I am pleased with the recognition it received for what it has done for Irish music. It is extraordinary that many of the local stations feature Irish music at the same time but that is how they are programmed. I suppose we cannot tell local radio stations what to do as regards programming. If you listen on you car radio, as I sometimes do, you find, unfortunately, that, Irish music features on all the stations at the same time. One at least, Galway Bay radio station, has been recognised. They should continue to promote Irish music because we do not have as much traditional music on RTE as we should and the local radio stations are doing a good job.

The arts are alive and well in many parts of the country. That is not to say that all is well. For example, in Galway city and its environs excellent festivals are organised with great commitment by voluntary groups, but in east Galway and the region which now borders on Offaly, Tipperary and Roscommon there is not quite so much success. The Minister should examine the suggestion I made and take up with the local authorities the question of appointing two arts officers in large counties like Galway where arts development is needed in the rural areas.

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

A Cheann Comhairle, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Teachtaí Dála go léir a rinne ráitis ar An Phlean Ealaíon 1995-1997. Ba mhór liom a chloisteáil go bhfuil gach taobh den Tí go ginearálta i bhfábhar an Phlean agus tá súil agam go mbeidh mé ábalta é a chur i bhfeidhm sul i bhfad.

I would like from the outset to thank all those who made statements on The Arts Plan 1995-97 during the course of contributions made on 6 April last and again today. The opportunity to make such statements represents a historic occasion for the arts in Ireland which have never before, outside the legislative process, been given such attention by this House since the foundation of the State. I very much welcome the contributions which indicated the wide support there is for the arts. I hope this augurs well for the future of the arts generally. It is clear from the statements made that there is a growing consensus that, apart from being an integral part of our society in their own right, the arts can contribute significantly to the economic and social development of the State. Moreover, as this historic moment on the island of Ireland, where more than ever structures need to be established which will respect different traditions and establish pluralism, the arts can play a seminal role in promoting mutual respect and understanding between two traditions.

In their statements, Deputies have directed specific questions at me which I will now attempt to answer. I will also set out some facts which, for the sake of the record, it is necessary to make clear. I should like to set the record straight regarding the current level of funding in regard to An Comhairle Ealaíon for 1995 in advance of any consideration by Government of the three year plan. The plan as published has to be considered by Government and I expect that to take place within the month. Deputy Dukes quoted the Estimates volume figure of £14.25 million for An Comhairle Ealaíon in 1995. Deputy Ahern quoted a separate figure of £15 million. Both figures are incorrect, because I was happy to secure an increase of £2 million for An Comhairle in this year's budget, which brings the Estimates figure of £14.2 million to an actual allocation of £16.25 million. I do not want this misconstrued again.

While the figure of £16.25 million does represent a shortfall from the plan's figure of £19.5 million sought by An Comhairle Ealaíon, I must emphasise that the Government has yet to come to a decision on the plan. I must also point out that the interim minority Fianna Fáil Government proposed to cut the funding of An Comhairle Ealaíon by more than 12 per cent from its 1994 level — from £13.2 million in 1994 to £11.6 million in 1995. That could hardly be described as a historic leap forward, more a curious historic leap backwards, and should suggest a salutary caution on Deputies going down the road of where the commitment lies. Our respective records will speak for themselves. We have seen how the figures have been adjusted. The Deputies will be aware that even before Government gives consideration to the plan there has been an increase in the allocation for An Comhairle Ealaíon of £4.65 million from the level proposed by the minority interim Fianna Fáil Government last December.

Deputy Quill asked about the allocation of the budget of An Comhairle Ealaíon and the proportion being spent in the Dublin area. This does not give a true picture of the situation. Many of the agencies, for example, Music Network, the Association of Artists in Ireland, the Sculpture Society of Ireland and CAFE, Creative Activity for Everyone, which are charged with spending money on the arts, are located in Dublin, but they spend a great deal of their budget in the regions. Taking this factor into account, the imbalance is in no way as exaggerated as Deputy Quill suggests. The very essence of this plan is the formulation of a strategy by An Comhairle Ealaíon to correct the imbalance that exists and provide for a more cohesive, structured and balanced arts infrastructure throughout the country.

Deputies Flaherty and Eric Byrne raised the important issue of the effect which the arts plan might have on the Dublin region. Deputy Flaherty pointed out that the greater Dublin area, for example, Fingal, Dublin South or Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown, are areas which are in need of their own local arts infrastructure and that this matter should be addressed. Deputy Sean Ryan mentionend this also.

I wish to repeat the position as outlined in my opening statement on this matter, that the regional policy emphasis in the arts plan will not mean scaling down of the arts infrastructure in Dublin. This is not necessary. While it is my express intention to upgrade arts activity and infrastructure in the regions, it will not be achieved at the expense of downgrading the infrastructure in our capital city. This is not a strategy for decentralisation, rather it is a policy of positive regionalisation.

In terms of the regions of Dublin outside its central core which contain the bulk of its arts and cultural infrastructure, I would like to assure Deputy Flaherty that the Arts Council is very conscious of the need within these areas of Dublin. It is working closely with the arts officers of the three Dublin county council regions in developing arts plans for the individual regions in Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. I accept that the concentration of major arts institutions in the capital does not address the needs of those communities who live in areas which are located on the outskirts of the city, and that the arts plan does not include these areas as priority zones. The areas around Dublin and, indeed, Cork need particular attention in their own right and the area based approach outlined in the plan will, as it evolves, focus on these outer urban areas as they become in their turn an absolute priority for attention and for eventual designation as priority zones.

Deputies — notably Deputies de Valera and Quill — expressed concern that the proposed centres of excellence in the plan will be overly exclusive, imposed from the centre, and have no regard for existing infrastructures. I made a genuine effort in my opening statement to allay these fears. I am happy to repeat that the proposal to have a network of centres of excellence is not intended and will not be either elitist or exclusive. The designation of one arts discipline in one town or city will not preclude arts activity flourishing in other disciplines in the same location, nor will it preclude the designated discipline being developed in other locations. In this regard while I have some sympathy with Deputy Quill's contention that Cork should be a centre of excellence for music it is not the intention of the plan to restrict the excellent musical infrastructure and tradition which already exists in Cork or to hamper its continued development. The plan merely sets out to enhance the overall cultural infrastructure of Cork city by placing a new emphasis on the visual arts which, over time, will complement its rich tradition in the music area and represent, as pointed out today, a further major attraction to Cork as a centre for tourism, artistic expression in its own right and its people.

I am aware also from the conference on "The Regional Development of the Arts in Ireland" which I opened in Cork last weekend that disquiet remains about the concept of the centre of excellence but I appeal to all concerned to allow the concept to develop for the three year period of the arts plan after which it should, in the normal course, terminate unless there is a groundswell of opinion in favour of its retention. The plan is not written in stone and should be the subject of comment and discussion.

Concern has been expressed during the debate, particularly by Deputies Flanagan and Dukes, regarding the selection of priority zones by An Chomhairle Ealaíon. An Chomhairle has taken a pragmatic approach in attempting to balance the relative needs of each county in the development of an appropriate arts infrastructure. It is accepted that there are huge requirements throughout the country but that real progress can be made only through a planned approach.

It has been suggested there has been a politicisation of my ministry. I want to prepare legislation in this general area, as I have done in the case of monuments, heritage and other areas; put structures in place and devise a plan to make funding for this activity secure beyond not just one year taken with another but beyond one Government taken with another and one incumbent taken with another. I cannot disqualify myself by virtue of the fact that I had some experience and a commitment to the arts over a number of years.

An Chomhairle is best placed to determine where the most urgent action is needed to remedy deficiencies and has based its initial selection of nine local authority areas on its view, with which I agree, that the central spine of the country is the weakest in terms of of professional arts infrastructure, a fact recognised in the report The Public and the Arts, a study of behaviour and attitudes carried out in 1994. There is agreement on this matter.

An Chomhairle intends that this approach will effect a radical change in the arts profile of the priority zones by the end of 1997. Subject to evaluation and review in 1998 it is intended that priority zones at that time will include counties Carlow, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Cavan. A rich account was given today of the resources of County Meath but I encourage the Deputy for that constituency to urge the local authority to appoint an arts officer. Sadly, it is one of the counties which not only does not have an arts officer but which also voted against having one.

I wish to explain to Deputy Smith that Cavan is also regarded as in serious need of arts infrastructural development but this is part of a phased approach which will help to achieve an overall cohesive infrastructure. This also answers the point made this morning by Deputy Kitt.

I am confident that, through the joint INTERREG programme for Ireland and Northern Ireland — some funding from which I am pleased to say is at my disposal — an opportunity exists for the stimulation of Border activity in the provision of enhanced cultural and arts infrastructural developments. This will assist in the cultural and economic development of the Border counties as a whole, a point made by many Deputies. It is essential to build on the progress achieved under the INTERREG 1 programme. The further development of well organised heritage and cultural tourism events has the potential to attract substantial overseas interest and investment. I agree wholeheartedly with Deputy Smith that North-South co-operation is of paramount importance, it is significant that the arts plan pays due recognition to this with increased co-operation and involvement between the two arts councils given priority as a key strategic objective.

Turning to the subject of the Temple Bar area, I welcome Deputies' comments. Deputy Fitzgerald spoke about the importance of the community having access to participate in its development while Deputy Haughey spoke about some of its critics. Temple Bar is important for the entire community, not just for sectional interests or as a tourist spot. I am pleased with developments to date and I am sure the Minister for the Environment will take into account the comments which have been made. I will arrange to have them conveyed to him.

Deputies de Valera and Killeen expressed concern that this strategic alliance which I have developed with An Chomhairle Ealaíon might be claustrophobic and in some way intrusive of the independent autonomy of An Chomhairle. I am disappointed about this because I have made it perfectly clear that, having agreed the general parameters of this plan with An Chomhairle in our discussions prior to publication, it is not part of my function to determine the funding under the plan for any particular discipline over the coming years or to determine where funding should be directed. The only suggestions that I should interfere with the autonomy of the Arts Council come from arts organisations which want me to overturn decisions of the council — and from Deputies. I am committed to the concept of autonomy.

I wish to clarify a point raised about the Abbey Theatre. Under the new arrangements I have put in place for the Abbey, the National Concert Hall and the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the council provides me with detailed and expert advice on the funding requirements of these institutions and I naturally seek to secure allocations from Government based on this advice. That is the way the system works. I agreed at a meeting with the chair and director of the council the allocations for the National Concert Hall and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. I accepted the recommendation of the council as to the level of funding that should be provided for the Abbey from the allocation for the Arts Council. The point is that the sums were decided on the basis of agreement between the council and me and there was no question of imposition of a decision on my part.

There is one serious point I want to correct. In his intervention Deputy Ahern referred to the Abbey Theatre and the National Ballroom. The Deputy, unilaterally, reversed a funding decision I had made before I left office and proposed a £500,000 allocation to Dublin Corporation for the purchase of the National Ballroom. This decision was made by Deputy Ahern in the absence of any request, to my Department's knowledge, from Dublin Corporation for such generous assistance — a point borne out by the fact that the corporation has since purchased the building.

Mr. N. Ahern

That is not true.

Mr. M. Higgins

I am happy that the Abbey Theatre will be able to tour this year. A sum of £207,000 has been earmarked for this purpose.

Deputies raised the need for closer links between my Department and the Departments of Education and the Environment. I agree with Deputy Kitt it is important that teacher training is sensitive to the needs of the arts.

It is important that local authority arts officers be appointed. It is hard to justify any serious claim from a local authority that it is genuinely interested in the arts if it fails to appoint an arts officer.

I have taken a detailed note of the many other issues raised. Deputy de Valera raised the question of funding for the Irish Architectural Archive. My Department provides an annual subvention to the Archive, which this year amounts to £50,000. Last year it provided a special grant of £6,000 to fund the computerisation of the Archive in partnership with IBM.

There was a reference to film production. I am delighted that not only has this been successful but that eight or nine counties have participated in the success of the film industry. These include Donegal —"The Hanging Gale" and "Secret of Roan Inish"— Cavan-Monaghan where two films were made, Cork, Clare, Carlow, MeathKildare and Wicklow.

I will listen carefully to the deliberations at conferences similar to that organised in Cork. If other conferences are organised they will be listened to with great care. We will try to do things as much as we can in a sense of partnership. It is not a question of who takes credit for what; I have acknowledged everything that has been done in the past but I have noted serious deficiencies and I am trying to put structures in place. I hope that whoever comes after me in this ministry will spend little time talking about what they may or may not do but will make available facilities and funding and adopt a planned approach so that partnerships will be built up between Departments to ensure that arts and culture, matters of Gaeltacht and Oireacht, will be assured into the future. Ba maith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Teachtaí uilig a labhair inniu is an lá cheana nuair a bhíomar ag plé an ábhair thábhachtaigh seo.