Written Answers Nos. 186-196
186. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which culture will be defined and the way the arm's length principle will be maintained in regard to Creative Ireland funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7661/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCreative Ireland is underpinned by the key values identified in the draft framework policy Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach: the intrinsic value of culture; the value of culture to our lives and our communities; the right of everyone to participate in the cultural life of the nation; the importance of the Irish language, our cultural heritage, folklore, games, music and uniqueness of our Gaeltacht areas; the value of cultural diversity, informed by the many traditions and social backgrounds now in Ireland; the value of culture as a means of fostering a more sustainable future for Ireland, including through economic and social policy; and the value of culture in presenting Ireland to the world.
The Creative Ireland Programme will embrace the whole cultural sector, bringing together all those involved in the arts, film, broadcasting, visual arts, cultural heritage, the Irish language and Gaeltacht, with Government Departments and State agencies.
The objects for the Creative Ireland Programme will primarily be delivered through, and in partnership with, existing agencies, local authorities, cultural institutions and State bodies.
187. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the current status of Culture 2025 and the commitments contained within it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7662/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra196. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of Culture 2025; the way in which it may or may not relate to Creative Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7706/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 196 together.
Last July I published the draft framework policy Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach, which was submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for input. I understand that the Committee is currently preparing a report on the draft framework policy which I will consider when received. I have also received submissions from various organisations on the draft document. Following receipt of the report from the Committee it is my intention to finalise the Policy.
In the meantime, I believe that it is important to continue momentum in terms of delivery of the priorities set out in the framework policy and to build on the positive legacy of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.
To that effect therefore, on December 8th last, the Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland Programme/Clár Éire Ildánach as the Government's Legacy Programme arising out of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025. The Creative Ireland Programme is a high-level, high-ambition, all-of-Government initiative to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation.
My Department is now working to implement the Creative Ireland Programme with partners across Government and other key stakeholders. This includes an ambitious Year 1 Programme to deliver 10 initiatives by the end of 2017. Details of the Programme can be found on www.creative.ireland.ie.
188. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the delivery mechanisms for the individual art forms under pillar 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7663/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra189. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of funding each local authority under pillar 2 of the Creative Ireland scheme will receive; and whether it will be ring-fenced. [7665/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra195. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the planned allocation of the €5 million for Creative Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7705/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the planned delivery mechanism to achieve the outcomes for the individual art forms under pillar 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7707/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra199. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the funding to each local authority, both amounts and rules and guidelines for the spending of these funds under pillar 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7709/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 189, 195, 197 and 199 together.
The Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland Programme – Clár Éire Ildánach 2017–2022 on 8 December 2016.
This is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national well-being. This will focus on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the goodwill and engagement generated by the 2016 commemorative programme.
The core proposition of this programme is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal well-being and achievement. The programme is based on five pillars: enabling the creative potential of every child; enabling creativity in every community; investing in our creative and cultural infrastructure; establishing Ireland as a centre of excellence in media production; and unifying our global reputation.
The aim of Pillar 1 of the Creative Ireland Programme is to enable the creative potential of every child. The Department of Education and Skills and Arts Council will be key partners in implementing this pillar. My Department has commenced discussions with that Department and the Arts Council on the delivery mechanisms for this pillar and it is intended that a national plan will be in place by the end of 2017.
The second pillar – Enabling creativity in every community – will be implemented primarily through our local authorities. This is because local authorities are the primary instruments of community engagement and second, local authorities have a particular capacity for local programme delivery, especially in the context of citizen engagement.
I have asked local authorities to establish a Culture Team bringing together arts officers, librarians, heritage officers, museum curators, archivists and other relevant personnel which will be led by a Director of Services, with a nominated person as 'Creative Ireland Co-ordinator'. The primary role of the Culture Team will be to develop a Culture and Creativity Plan, reflecting the overall structure and aims of the national strategy programme, and then to drive public participation in creative cultural activity in each local authority area.
I have made a specific allocation of €1 million to the local authorities towards the implementation of the 2017 Creative Ireland Plans out of the overall funding of €5m which I secured in Budget 2017 to underpin this new initiative. I am currently considering the overall allocations under the Creative Ireland Programme and will make further announcements in this regard in due course.
190. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a redevelopment project in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7697/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a scheme under which financial assistance can be provided towards the capital costs associated with developing or improving community and language facilities in the Gaeltacht.
My Department has received an application for funding under this scheme to assist with the development referred to by the Deputy. However, while my Department contributes towards the cost of providing living accommodation for Irish language students attending the facility during the summer months, the facility is not in the Gaeltacht. Accordingly, my Department will not be in a position to fund the substantial capital costs associated with the planned redevelopment.
191. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the plans for setting up Creative Ireland; the person or body that will be making decisions in this regard; the details of the relationship between her Department and Creative Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7701/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra194. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will provide the terms of reference, structures and make-up of the planned Creative Ireland advisory committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7704/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 194 together.
The Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland Programme – Clár Éire Ildánach 2017 – 2022 on the 8 December 2016 as the Government's Legacy Programme for Ireland 2016 and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach, the draft cultural policy which I published in July 2016.
While the programme will operate under the aegis of my Department it is important to note that this is a cross-Government initiative designed to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national well-being. I have established a dedicated Project Office within my Department that will be responsible for the implementation of this programme. The programme will be overseen by a Cabinet Committee chaired by An Taoiseach and by a Senior Officials Group led by the Secretary General of the Department of An Taoiseach, comprising civil servants from each relevant Department.
There are no plans at present for setting up Creative Ireland Advisory committees.
192. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if Creative Ireland will see an increase in the existing funding for the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7702/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve.
In Budget 2017, I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board. The increase in the Arts Council's allocation in 2017 is €5 million, or 8%, and will assist the Council greatly in implementing its 10-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025). I also secured an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board, representing a 14% increase in its annual budget. This increase in funding will allow the Board to invest more in Irish talent in the year ahead and follows on from a very successful year for the Irish film sector, particularly the indigenous film sector.
Budget 2017 also includes: increased funding for all of the National Cultural Institutions; an increase of €1 million for Culture Ireland; an additional €1 million to the Heritage Council; and funding of €5m for the implementation of the Creative Ireland Programme.
All of this represents real and substantial funding increases across the arts and cultural area and has been welcomed across the sector. It reaffirms the commitment of this Government to progressively increase funding for the arts as the economy improves, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government.
193. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will provide any reports, research documents or plans regarding the issue of social protection payments for artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7703/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently announced that my Department in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection would devise a mechanism during 2017 to assist self-employed artists who have applied for Jobseeker's Allowance.
I have been in contact with my colleague the Minister for Social Protection on the matter and officials of our two Departments have already begun working on this initiative in consultation with the Arts Council. The scheme will be a pilot scheme and is part of the Creative Ireland Programme which was launched by the Taoiseach and I on 8 of December last. Details of the pilot scheme will be announced as soon as possible. Any reports which are generated as part of the consideration of the scheme can be released once final decisions are made.
