Other Questions
58. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if any progress has been made on a website portal and joint commercial and marketing strategy as outlined in the Comprehensive Review of Expendidure 2012-2014; if he will outline that progress; the projected income that such an initiative might accrue to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44239/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 37, 45, 56 and 59 on 18 September 2013.
As the Deputy may be aware, as part of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2012–2014, my Department considered a range of possible options for savings in respect of its arts and culture programme area. This included a website portal and joint commercial and marketing strategy. Under the Croke Park and Haddington Road reform programme, we have now gone beyond what was contemplated by the comprehensive review of expenditure. Indeed, savings of the order of 20% to 25% in the Exchequer allocations to the cultural institutions have been made since 2010.
In tandem with that, the Government had agreed a range of reforms under the Public Service Reform Plan 2011 for a number of the national cultural institutions under the aegis of my Department. The focus within my Department and the national cultural institutions has been concentrated on the implementation of the reform plan and there has been an intensive engagement by all in that process. I have previously advised the House of the shared service models that are being developed for the national cultural institutions through my Department for corporate support services and, by formal inter-institutional agreement, for operational services. For example, the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, IMMA, and the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, have been working more closely together and this has recently been formally codified by way of a shared services agreement. This commits these institutions to working more closely together in a range of areas, including human resources, procurement, conservation and photography services, collection management, including cataloguing and digitisation, storage, insurance, enterprise and marketing.
Preliminary estimates for savings provided to me earlier this year indicate that approximately €100,000 will have been saved over the course of 2012 and 2013 through the shared services agenda at the three galleries.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
As I outlined previously, in overall terms it is expected that operational and support savings in the region of approximately €1 million will be initially realised from the reform programme across the institutions involved, which are funded from my Department's Vote group, with further savings to be identified as the various cost efficiencies are implemented. This is all against the backdrop of respecting the programming, curatorial and operational independence of the directors.
I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Ellis. The Minister made deep and very damaging budget cuts under several headings in the Department. My question is asked on the basis that, where there are reductions in expenditure, cuts to front line and key services would be avoided as best as possible and that, where possible, such reductions in funding could be achieved through shared rather than reduced services. I mean that in a real way. Too often when this Government talks about shared services, one side or the other of an equation loses out.
I tabled a written question some time ago and the answer I received was less than satisfactory. It referred to Haddington Road, shared HR practice and to agreements between the key institutions on operational matters. A new approach to marketing strategy and a website portal would enhance the work of all these institutions and would, to a large extent, improve the web accessibility of the key institutions and museums. It could also save money for the marketing budget without necessarily cutting expenditure on exhibitions and research. Can the Minister tell us whether he will now engage with these organisations and discuss with them the benefits or drawbacks of such an approach?
Several different options were and are being considered. I am delighted, as I outlined in my response, that last week IMMA, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Crawford Art Gallery signed a shared services agreement. This is unique and historical. The previous proposal was that the three galleries would be amalgamated into one.
I decided against that. I thought it would not work so I left them as independent entities. However, I also asked them to share services which they are now doing, be it marketing, HR, legal or other aspects of their operations. Last week, IMMA signed up to shared services with our Department so things are really happening out there.
With regard to a website portal and a joint commercial and marketing strategy, we have not produced the website portal yet but it is a matter for consideration. We can certainly look at that option when the final rationalisation takes place and the changes occur when I introduce legislation and I can see some merits to it. It will depend on the resources available but it is not something I have totally dismissed.
I thank the Minister for his answer. I am glad he will look at it. However, in times such as these, creative approaches to saving money are required and introducing such a web portal could be of great benefit to the institutions.
It is something we will keep under active consideration. I thank the national cultural institutions who have co-operated with my Department and officials and are very serious about rationalisation and saving money. Another departure will be reducing all numbers on State boards to nine members which, again, will result in a saving so things are happening out there, people are co-operating and there is a very good response to collaboration. I am certainly very happy with the progress. Deputy McLellan's suggestion merits serious consideration and I mean that sincerely. It will be kept on the agenda.
59. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of cross-Border work being undertaken by agencies under the aegis of his Department; the way in which relationships between arts, heritage and language bodies can be strengthened by his Department; the steps he will take to that end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44243/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assure the Deputy that my Department is fully committed to supporting North-South co-operation, particularly in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department funds two of the six North-South implementation bodies established under the 1999 British-Irish Agreement. These are Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga, which comprises two agencies - Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency-Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch. These implementation bodies carry out a range of activities in line with their statutory remits. They operate under the policy direction of the North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, and are supported by funding from their two sponsor Departments - my Department and Northern Ireland's Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
In addition to the language and inland waterways sectors, my Department and bodies funded from its core Vote continue to explore ways of deepening and enhancing North-South co-operation. In this regard, my Department works closely with the British-Irish Council and supports artists on an all-Ireland basis to present their work internationally. Other areas of cross-Border co-operation include work on the planning of commemorations, collaborations between museums on either side of the Border and participation by a number of projects in Northern Ireland in Culture Night 2013 as well as engagement on built and natural heritage and environmental matters. For example, last April I accepted the invitation of the Northern Ireland Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín, MLA, to visit Belfast and see at first hand some of the excellent work under way in that city in regard to language and culture and to meet with representatives of organisations active in that area. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, has also taken the opportunity of attending other cross-Border cultural functions, including Robbie Burns concerts and the launch of the Ulster-Scots Foundation Certificate in Highland Piping at Stormont.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that I, along with the Minister of State, participate regularly in meetings of the NSMC in both the waterways and language sectoral formats. Four sectoral meetings have taken place to date in 2013 with another two planned for November. In addition, I participate at the highest level when the NSMC meets in plenary format.
I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy O'Brien.
Clearly, we are a small island with substantial commonalities North and South as well as some differences, particularly in respect of the political dispensations that exist on either side of the Border. However, there are a number of key bodies on either side of the Border which deal with similar things. In particular, Foras na Gaeilge is one of the key all-Ireland bodies under the Good Friday Agreement and functions under the North-South Ministerial Council. More particularly, I wish to inquire about the arts and heritage bodies.
This is particularly important in light of the significance of arts and heritage to our cultural identity. During the decade of centenaries we need to reflect on how matters which previously caused division were expressed through the arts and to consider how this generation might celebrate and commemorate our shared artistic heritage in a way that is not divisive. Will the Minister consider meeting the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure in the North on a regular basis to discuss matters relating to arts and heritage?
I am pleased to confirm that I meet Deputy McLellan's party colleague on a regular basis and that we have a good relationship. We will shortly be launching a programme, Gaeilge gan Stró, in the Dáil. I am sure Members will be invited to the launch. We launched the programme on the Falls Road some time ago and we will launch it here when it is ready. The Arts Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland work closely with each other and both the Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín, MLA, and I have asked them to work closely together. We will be attending a joint meeting of the arts councils presently, which I have been requesting for some time. I hope the preparations have been put in place to allow us to meet. We have jointly launched a number of initiatives over the past two years. We agreed on a new approach to funding the Irish language and organisations. This approach was historical because it was around since 2004. We put it together with the Minister of State in my Department, Deputy McGinley. We enjoy close co-operation and I would personally like us to do even more together. A number of initiatives are envisaged on which we can work together.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I accept the points he made about Foras na Gaeilge and Irish language co-operation. However, as regards other matters in his Department's remit, has he taken steps to ensure co-operation? Perhaps he might consider developing a framework for the arm's length bodies in order that such matters might be discussed.
My officials maintain contact with their counterparts in Northern Ireland and they enjoy a good working relationship. There is considerable co-operation that people do not see. People are working closely together to avoid excessive duplication. A great example in the arts is the cross-Border youth orchestra, which is a very successful organisation made up of young people from both sides of the Border. They work closely together to produce good content and they travel to the UK and the USA. Although they work under the radar, they are very effective. The orchestra is funded by the Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly. There are good examples of which we do not often hear. I think we should hear about them more often.
60. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will restore the 30% cut in arts funding which has taken place over the past five years, as a necessary measure to protect our culture and local artistic jobs and centres. [43519/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra63. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the sections of the arts that will be affected by the most recent 7% cut in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44524/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 63 together.
My Department has policy responsibility for the conservation, preservation, protection, development and preservation of Ireland's heritage and culture. It also seeks to promote the Irish language, support the Gaeltacht and assist the sustainable development of island communities. A gross provision of over €238 million is being made available to my Department in 2014. A further €7.5 million is provided separately for the National Gallery of Ireland. In broad terms, the 2014 allocations are as follows: almost €123 million for arts, culture and film, including almost €56 million for the Arts Council and €14 million for the Irish Film Board; almost €45 million for the conservation and protection of Ireland's built and natural heritage; almost €40 million for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the islands; and over €38 million for North-South co-operation, including support for two North-South implementation bodies, Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga.
For 2014 there has been a core reduction of approximately €16.9 million, or 7%, in Exchequer funding to my Department. Therefore, as with every other Minister, difficult choices had to be made with regard to funding for next year. Notwithstanding this, and even with a reduced departmental budget, every week more than €2.3 million will be invested in arts, culture and film next year.
That funding will go to a range of beneficiaries, including the Arts Council, the Irish Film Board, the national cultural institutions, regional museums, art centres, artists and arts and culture organisations. This weekly allocation will help to maintain and support the important role played by the arts in innovation and expression, job creation and economic recovery. In addition, funding for three jobs-rich initiatives, totalling €17 million, is also being made available. This will have a considerable positive impact on the arts and heritages sectors throughout 2014. The €17 million is new and additional funding that comes from the proceeds of the national lottery licence transaction. It includes €6 million for the Limerick city of culture in 2014, €6 million for projects relating to the decade of centenaries and €5 million for the 2014 traditional skills and buildings at risk jobs leverage scheme.
Funding for the arts, culture and film represents a significant contribution not only to sustaining the arts and national cultural institutions, but also to job creation. In line with other Departments, difficult choices needed to be made in this year's budget. As has been made clear, this budget is above all about strengthening our economy, creating jobs and exiting the bailout. I am confident that the allocation of more than €238 million to my Department will play a role in that respect not only by maintaining and supporting the important role the arts play in innovation and expression, but also in the potential for job creation in these sectors and for economic recovery.
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing to make progress, improving the economy, exiting the bailout and helping to create jobs. My Department and the sectors it represents will make a significant contribution to this work during the course of 2014.
Deputy Clare Daly will ask the first supplementary question, followed by Deputy Wallace. Deputy Kevin Humphreys will also ask a question. The Deputies will have one minute each.
I honestly believed that the Minister was answering a different question at the start. While it is heartening that he is confident that the money will go a long way, he is probably the only person in that category. He is missing the essential point, namely, that the trajectory of funding for the arts has been spiralling downwards in recent years. This year, it reached a critical point that even the one-off lottery allocation will in no way help. For the providers of the arts, many jobs are being jeopardised and many projects are on a knife's edge.
Last year's cut of 7% on top of the cuts of the previous six years was a cut too far. For example, Culture Ireland has seen a 21% cut in its funding. Organisations such as it promote Ireland abroad. They herald and trumpet our great artistic achievements, but they cannot do so if the Government takes money out of their projects. Many projects are in jeopardy. If their budgets are cut, they cannot keep doing the job that they are supposed to do. I wonder how the Minister will square that circle.
The Deputy is undoubtedly aware that this is a part of the framework. It was publicised last year, so people knew what their reductions would be. In 2006, there was a reduction of 24.3%. In 2009, there was a reduction of 10%. When I got the opportunity to work on the allocation for 2012, there was just a reduction of 2.9%. The Deputy mentioned a figure of 7% for the cut announced last year, but it was actually 4%. Unfortunately, the cut next year will be more than 7%. The National Museum and other national cultural institutions are under pressure to stay open and provide services, so I needed to limit the reduction in their funding. Some €6 million has been provided for the Limerick city of culture. Artists from all over the country will benefit, not just people in Limerick. They will get an opportunity.
I accept that Culture Ireland is important. We send our artists all over the world with a positive message about Ireland. However, its €2.5 million remains a great deal of money and I needed to focus funding on what was happening inside the country as much as on sending people abroad.
The fact that it was a smaller cut under the Minister's budget last year is missing the central point, which is that the Arts Council alone has had a cut of 34% since 2008. Obviously the arts cost money but we get that money back in multiples by investing in it. The Minister has not really dealt with that issue. If these organisations are given money to promote local groups, but that money is being cut, how can they then keep going? Many people, including young independent film makers, are being driven out of this country. They have talents which other countries will pick up. It is short-sighted to reduce funding in this way. This year, we will give €50 million to National Toll Roads for the West Link toll bridge which has been paid for twice over, yet the arts budget gets butchered. It does not make any sense whatsoever.
The Minister should keep his reply as tight as he can because Deputy Kevin Humphreys has a question.
I have been trying to encourage philanthropy in order to make up for the shortfall in Government funding. This is working to some extent. Last year, I had a small philanthropic scheme of €220,000 which yielded up to €800,000. I am trying to encourage more arts organisations to engage with business - like the Business to Arts organisation is doing - to make up that gap as much as possible through philanthropic measures. The Arts Council's RAISE scheme has held fund-raisers for a number of organisations. Hopefully they will be able to make up for that reduction through such initiatives. I am trying to encourage this as much as possible.
People seem to forget that this country was broke and is still being challenged. Every Department has had to make a sacrifice, including my own. I inherited reduced budgets in the three sectors that form my Department. For example, the built heritage budget was cut from €15 million to €3 million. I inherited a small budget compared to others. I am doing my best to spread it as much as possible.
I do not hold the Minister responsible for cuts to the arts and I understand that it is Government policy. However, there is a serious lack of joined-up thinking, while short-term policies are being implemented by this Government. The Government is aware that we are not exploiting the massive tourism potential here. Other countries like Italy and Spain take in much more tourism revenue than Ireland as a percentage of GDP. We have an incredible potential to maximise tourism potential to much greater effect that at present.
Recently conducted independent research shows that the arts industry alone is worth a minimum of €700 million for this country. Approximately 2,500 people are directly employed in the sector. Tourism figures are up this year in Dublin and I can vouch for that in my own businesses. Hitting Culture Ireland now is not the way to improve things next year. It is a retrograde step to cut arts funding and it does not make sense.
The arts are very much part of our tourism offering. For example, over 1 million tourists visit the National Museum annually. Our cultural institutions are free and we are trying to keep them that way because they are a huge attraction. The number of people coming to Ireland for the cultural encounter is increasing all the time. If The Gathering proved one thing, it was that most of the events were connected with the arts which constitute an important part of our tourism industry.
Culture Ireland supports artists to travel abroad and promote this country in their own way. I try to ensure that funding is kept at home as much as possible because we are under budgetary pressure. At the same time, Culture Ireland, which is part of my Department, will continue funding people to go abroad. We are trying to maximise the benefit from that funding. I have changed Culture Ireland to include the IDA, as well as Tourism Ireland and other State agencies, so that when an artist is going abroad these national agencies can capitalise on the presence of some of our best artists. In that way, they can bring their clients along and do other promotions with them.
This is happening. We must get more for less.
For time efficiency purposes, we will take the supplementary questions from Deputies Kevin Humphreys, Mick Wallace and Sandra McLellan together.
As already stated, arts groups play an important role in Irish society in terms of them being ambassadors for Ireland at home and abroad. I know from my interaction with arts groups that they have done more with less over the past number of years. Planning and budgetary matters require certainty. Currently, arts groups can only plan from year to year. Will the Minister consider the introduction of multi-annual budgeting for this sector during the remainder of the lifetime of this Government, which would provide certainty and allow those involved to engage in long-term planning in respect of the services they wish to provide in the coming years? Would it be possible to provide this sector with a level of certainty in regard to funding over the coming years?
I am sure the Minister will share my view that investing in the arts is a double winner for this State in that any money spent on arts is good for the development of any country. It is also an economic winner. Greater investment in sports would also be a double winner. Not only is sport good mentally for the young people involved but it reaps dividends by helping to reduce our health bills in terms of addressing issues such as obesity and alcohol-related problems, which are costing the State approximately €6 billion.
There has been a reduction of €9.2 million in arts funding, including an 8% reduction this year in culture and film funding on top of a 5% reduction last year. Less funding in arts means less arts in local communities and, more specifically, fewer plays and exhibitions and less support for young people getting involved in the arts. These cuts will result in the arts being only accessible to a few rather being a property of the people.
The Minister referred earlier to philanthropy. Has he given up on trying to secure Bank of Ireland, College Green for the arts?
As regards multi-annual funding, as somebody who has been involved in a number of arts organisations for the past 30 years I agree with Deputy Humphreys on the issue of certainty around funding. I refer the Deputy to the framework published two years ago by the Government. The Arts Council is well aware of its budget. The Government was able to give the Arts Council more during the past two years under that framework. It is hoped the reduction for next year can be minimised. While that is not certainty it is positive. The likelihood is that unless there is a return to growth in the country there will be no change in what is already provided for under the framework.
On the point made by Deputy Wallace, we are all agreed that the arts is one of our strongest calling cards. Up to €1 billion has been invested in the arts in this country, some of which it should be acknowledged was provided by previous Governments. For example, physical plant throughout the country has been improved and there are now some high quality theatres around the country, including the recently opened Garage in Monaghan. It is hoped the Tullamore project and proposed Solas cinema in Galway will go ahead. We are still providing funding for the arts. There has also been a huge investment in human resources. There is a really vibrant and exciting young arts community in this country, including in the visual and performing arts. These people are producing content despite funding having been reduced. I encourage them to continue to be positive and to do things.
During the tributes in this House to Seamus Heaney a Deputy attacked the Government on the issue of arts funding, which was a little inappropriate at that time, and asked from where would come the next Seamus Heaney. There was very little funding available to encourage writers when Seamus Heaney was a young man. Creativity rather than funding is required.
On Deputy McLellan's question, engagement with the Bank of Ireland is ongoing.
It is hoped some accommodation can be found in the future, but it is not over by any means. I know that Deputy Ó Fearghaíl got a different response, perhaps from the Bank of Ireland director or whoever, but there are still ongoing discussions and it is hoped something will happen before 2016. Many possibilities are still being considered.
61. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans he has to advance further subsidised living space for artists in our cities, similar to the scheme established in Limerick; if he is concerned at the increasing financial pressures facing Irish artists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44502/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of St. John's artists' apartments at St. John's Square, Limerick, was project managed by Limerick City Council and grant aided by my Department under the arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme, or ACCESS II. The development consists of eight apartments which provide accommodation and studio space for artists. Similar projects were grant aided under the ACCESS II scheme, in Athlone, County Westmeath, and two in Dublin city. The grants were made following a call for arts capital projects in 2006 and 2007 and were selected along with more than 70 other projects from in excess of 150 arts and culture projects. I have no plans at present for any new major arts and culture capital grant scheme similar to the ACCESS II scheme. My Department had a small capital grants scheme available this year that offered support to 29 projects. The maximum amount available under this scheme was €10,000.
The organisation with primary responsibility for artists' welfare is the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations and neither I nor my Department has a role to play in its executive or funding decisions.
My Department has also provided funding for a number of other capital projects in Limerick. These included the Belltable, Limerick City Gallery of Art, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Daghdha Dance and the Hunt Museum. The total investment in arts and culture infrastructure was in excess of €6.2 million, which will greatly assist in the delivery of a world-class arts and culture programme next year when Limerick hosts the first Irish national city of culture. The Government has allocated €6 million towards this historic year, which I anticipate will provide significant employment opportunities for artists in Limerick over the coming months.
I think it was a Visual Artists Ireland survey recently which indicated that young artists throughout the country are earning about €17,000, and that income is very precarious. One of the things we can do to assist them is to provide subsidised living accommodation, or subsidised workshop or gallery space. That is why the Limerick Arts Office is to be particularly praised for the work done in Limerick city. What sort of funding did the Department make available to that project? Would the Minister consider engaging with NAMA in respect of its many properties, especially in the cities and the larger urban centres? I suspect that such engagement could lead to similar developments taking place whereby residential units and workshop and gallery space could be acquired to assist the arts community. Such an initiative would be worthwhile.
The grant from our Department was €384,000, which is substantial. I opened the apartments and I got a very positive response from the artists concerned. They now can rent space in the city, whereas previously they had to pay high accommodation costs there. Work space is provided with the apartment, where they can do some of their backup work in their own apartments.
Calls were made in the past to engage with NAMA. There was general engagement, although I am prohibited by legislation from direct engagement. The Abbey Theatre acquired a major property from NAMA, which will now ensure it will have the footprint on which to build a new Abbey when it can afford it. The Lighthouse Cinema also represented a very positive engagement with NAMA as well, and now that cinema is very successful. I am sure there are other examples, but these are two very important examples. NAMA is also involved in Moore Street and I hope that, in time, with the co-operation of Dublin City Council, the owners and NAMA, we can get a satisfactory resolution to ensure we have a proper interpretative centre and monument on the street to honour the people of 1916.
I agree with the position in respect of NAMA when it comes to living spaces. I am encouraged by the Minister's reply on College Green, but his failure to secure that property two years later is quite disappointing. Can the Minister look at the properties within his own Department? I did an analysis of Údarás na Gaeltachta buildings at the start of this year, and over half of them in Donegal are lying vacant. Can the Minister look at making vacant properties in his Department available to those within the arts who need the space in order that we can encourage the arts, following the reduction of funding that has taken place in recent years?
If the Deputy has a list of buildings, he should bring them to my attention. I am not aware of these particular buildings. At one stage it looked like the State would own more than 50% of the College Green building, but now it is 15%, so we are in a much different position. We are continuing discussions with the authorities.
The Deputy heard what the Minister said. If he has a list of the buildings, please provide them to the Minister.
