Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2015
279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she and her Department continue to encourage the development and promotion of the arts, with particular reference to the maximisation of employment opportunities arising therefrom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24444/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan for Jobs 2015 was published in January this year and is the fourth in the multi-annual series which promotes a whole-of-government approach to economic recovery, export growth and job creation. The Action Plan sets out a number of actions in relation to the arts sectors. The nature of employment within the sector encompasses a wide range of activities and may also embody the industrial creative sectors, including audio-visual production.
For example, it is estimated that the audio-visual sector provides 6,000 full-time job equivalents. Last year, 53 feature films were made. Many of those employed in the industry are graduates. Some 65% of investment in the sector is inward investment. My Department is working with other Government Departments and agencies to examine ways in which further support can be provided to the industry.
Many people in the creative sectors will benefit from the additional funding which my Department is providing for the Decade of Commemorations, in particular the investment in the Ireland 2016 programme. This comprises €4m current and €22m capital funding in 2015.
This includes a €2 million allocation directed through the Arts Council for artistic projects and €1m directed towards our key national cultural institutions. There are also considerable employment benefits arising from the capital projects under way or being planned. For example, some 200 jobs have been created in the construction stage of the new interpretative centre in the GPO. In addition, some 300 high-level jobs have been created in the construction work on the National Gallery of Ireland as part of a joint project funded by my Department, the OPW and the National Gallery.
I will continue to invest across the arts sector within the resources available to my Department.
