Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 June 2012
11 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the full extent to which he expects and or intends to involve or utilise the arts, culture and heritage sectors in economic recovery with special emphasis on the marketing of a positive natural image; the degree to which he can quantify the effect in financial terms in the case of the current year. [27109/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe arts, culture and heritage sectors continue to offer vital opportunities for the provision of important cultural, social and employment benefits to communities throughout the country. The nature of employment within the arts sector encompasses a very wide range of activities. It can include those engaged in the arts practice within specific artistic genres and can also encompass areas which flow from such artistic pursuits. It may also embody the whole industrial creative sectors, including the audiovisual production sector.
The Government appreciates and values the contribution the arts sector makes to the internationally renowned artistic reputation of this country. Within the current economic constraints, investment in the arts, culture and creative sectors is more important than ever, having regard to the employment intensity of the sector. The Deputy will be aware that a report (An Assessment of the Economic Impact of the Arts in Ireland) published by the Arts Council in 2011 indicated that the arts sector provides significant direct and indirect employment, supporting some 21,300 jobs and contributing €306.8 million in taxes. The arts also impact on the wider creative industries, contributing €4.7 billion to the economy and supporting 79,000 jobs.
The heritage area is also increasingly identified as a primary stimulus in the tourism sector and my Department is committed to promoting greater appreciation and understanding of Ireland's rich heritage as a valuable amenity for business, farming and tourism and as a means of presenting Ireland as an attractive destination for sustainable inward investment. A report published by the Heritage Council last month indicates that Ireland's historic environment supports over 35,000 jobs and contributes in the order of €1.5 billion to the national economy. It also indicates that one fifth of total visitor expenditure in Ireland is attributable to our historic environment.
While the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and the agencies under its remit, have primary responsibility for the promotion of Ireland generally as an attractive visitor location, heritage sites, including national parks and national monuments, feature strongly in much of this promotion. In addition, my Department through, for example, the provision of important heritage inventories, the funding for the conservation and presentation of the built heritage, and through support for the Heritage Council, assists in promoting greater appreciation and understanding of Ireland's heritage as a valuable amenity for residents and visitors alike. My Department is also directly involved in developing heritage initiatives with Fáilte Ireland, the Heritage Council and other organisations. I am confident that these and other initiatives will contribute to the quality of the national heritage tourism product, economic recovery and job creation.
As the Deputy will be aware, in the Government'sAction Plan for Jobs, there are 11 specific actions in the areas of arts, culture and creative enterprise which are to be undertaken by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the agencies under its remit. The relevant actions are set out in section 7 of the Plan and I look forward to continuing progress in relation to these actions in the period ahead.
