Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
1085. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the capital allocation for her Department in each of the years 2019 to 2023; and the areas in which this will be spent in each of the years, by projects and particular areas of investment. [12317/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recently launched Project Ireland 2040, incorporating the new national planning framework and associated 10-year National Development Plan (NDP), explicitly recognises that our culture, language and heritage are integral to the sustainable development of the country. This recognition is underpinned by a commitment in the NDP to invest in excess of €1 billion in our culture and heritage over the next 10 years.
This investment will be made across four programme areas within the Department's remit, as follows:
- €460 million will be spent on the National Cultural Institutions Investment Programme. The delivery of this programme will ensure the protection of our National Collections as well as significantly enhancing both the offering to and experience of the National Cultural Institutions for visitors.
- €265 million has been made available under the NDP for a culture and creativity investment programme. This investment programme will be closely aligned with the Creative Ireland Programme and will include a specific scheme to invest in regional arts and culture facilities among other initiatives.
- An investment of €285 million will be made in our natural and built heritage. Under the programme, my Department will develop a major new investment programme for our National Parks and Nature Reserves. We will also invest in our built heritage and our inland waterways, while the implementation of our National Biodiversity Plan, will assist in the protection our landscapes, peatlands and biodiversity for future generations.
- €178 million is being provided to support and protect the Irish language, Gaeltacht communities and communities on our offshore islands. This will support a wide range of actions from investments to support job creation, supports for Island communities and language and cultural hubs to support the Irish language.
The NDP has provided a breakdown of our allocations for culture, heritage and the Irish language over the next five years, as follows:
- €54 million in 2018
- €75 million in 2019
- €76 million in 2020
- €80 million in 2021
- €110 million in 2022
Details of the capital allocation for 2023 are not currently available. Based on these figures, I expect that the next five years will see the delivery of significant renovations commencing at a number of our National Cultural Institutions. There will also be investments in our built and natural heritage, our regional arts and culture facilities, as well as the digitisation of parts of the National Collections. The Irish language and the Gaeltacht and island communities will see increased investment over the next 5 years and the programme for Galway 2020 – EU Capital of Culture will also be delivered. Specific details on the projects to be delivered over the period to 2023 will crystallise as we move through the necessary appraisal, planning and design phases to implementation.
