Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
1102. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the projects mentioned in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 that come under her Department's remit or bodies under its aegis; and the estimated completion dates for each project in tabular form. [12986/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraProject Ireland 2040 – the National Planning Framework and associated 10 year National Development Plan – has given explicit recognition to the importance of our culture, language and heritage to our sustainable development over the next decade and beyond. This recognition is supported by the unprecedented commitment by Government to invest in excess of €1 billion in our culture and heritage over the 10-year implementation of the NDP. This is in addition to an investment of €178 million in the Irish language and in our Gaeltacht and Island communities.
A cornerstone of our culture investment programme is the €460 million that is being set aside for the renovation of the National Cultural Institutions, the protection of the national collections and the enhancement of visitor experiences and services. This funding programme will build on the success of the renovation of the Miltown and Dargan wings of the National Gallery and will include significant capital investments in our institutions, most of which are based in Dublin, but including also the Crawford Gallery in Cork.
Under a new culture and creativity programme, an investment of €265 million will be made in enhancing regional cultural infrastructure to ensure that people in all parts of Ireland enjoy opportunities to engage with the arts and culture, in the expansion of the audio-visual sector as a key element of the Government’s creative industries investment, and in the digitisation of the National Collections to ensure they are preserved and made available to a global audience. Funding will also be made available for Galway 2020 when it takes on the title of EU Capital of Culture.
The National Development Plan also emphasises the amenity value of our natural and built heritage with an investment programme of €285 million over the period of the plan. Under the Plan, my Department will develop a major new investment programme for our National Parks and Nature Reserves which are invaluable natural assets, as well as being hubs for outdoor activities and tourism. 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.
A further €178 million is also being provided to support and protect the Irish language, Gaeltacht communities and communities on our offshore islands. This is a particularly welcome announcement this year given that it has been designated as Bliain na Gaeilge. 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. It also looks to support opportunities to expand the Irish Language community beyond the Gaeltacht including the development of a flagship language and culture hub in Dublin City. It will also include developments at piers in the Aran Islands and at Machaire Rabhartaigh, serving Tory Island.
The NDP has provided an annual breakdown of our investment over the next five years which affords my Department the necessary clarity to allow us to properly schedule the delivery of our projects and programmes. 2018 will be a critical year for the appraisal of, and planning and design for many of our flagship projects with a view to moving to the implementation phase in the following years. More details on the commencement and completion dates of these projects and programmes will emerge as we go through this process of rigorously appraising and planning for these important investments.
