Written Answers Nos. 307-310
307. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department continues to provide funding for the arts at local and community level, directly or indirectly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20502/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Creative Ireland Programme was launched in December 2017 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/Éire Ildánach. The Creative Ireland Programme is a high level, high ambition, 5-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022 which aims to place creativity at the centre of public policy. The programme is being led by my Department in partnership with other Government Departments and Agencies, local authorities, the third level sector, arts and culture organisations (including the National Cultural Institutions) and relevant NGOs. Under Pillar II of the Programme, each of the 31 local authorities has established a Culture Team and in 2017 published and implemented local Culture and Creativity Plans which were supported by an allocation of €2m (€1m from my Department and €1m from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government). In total, these plans listed over 750 local cultural projects, events and initiatives taking place nationwide last year which gave us a snapshot of the rich cultural activity taking place in each country. Each local authority is now in the process of drawing up more detailed five-year Strategic Creativity Plans which will be published later this year. These strategies will be accompanied by an Activity Plan outlining initiatives being supported by the local authorities in their respective areas. The implementation of these Activity plans will be supported by a sum of €3m (€2m from my own Department and €1m from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government). Each local authority will therefore receive approximately €96,000 this year under the Creative Ireland Programme. The local authorities have full discretion in terms of what activities they support. The overall aim of these plans will be to mainstream and promote culture and creativity in the life of the nation so that individually and collectively, we can realise our full creative potential with commensurate economic benefits.
308. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she has had discussions with other Departments or interest groups with a view to creating greater awareness of national heritage and culture throughout primary and second level schools; if she continues to have discussions with the Minister for Education and Skills in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20503/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Creative Youth Plan, as part of the Creative Ireland Programme, was launched in December 2018. This Plan will be progressed over the next five years in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Arts Council. At this plan's core is a firm belief that creativity and culture should be at the heart of education for all our young people and I look forward to working with the Department's key partners to deliver this plan for all our children and young people.
My Department also partners with the Heritage Council to deliver programmes to create a greater awareness of national heritage throughout primary and second level school. Programmes include Heritage in Schools, programmes run through our National Museums, the Heritage Maps database and the National Heritage Week. Indeed, as 2018 is the European Year of Cultural Heritage, there are many extra events being run throughout the country in partnership with the Creative Ireland Programme.
309. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applications received from various amateur societies involved in the promotion of the arts throughout County Kildare in the past 12 months; the extent to which she expects to be in a position to respond positively to such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20504/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra310. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to communicate with local community groups involved in the production of amateur dramatic and musical festivals with particular reference to the need to offer appropriate financial assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20505/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together.
Enabling creativity in every community is a key strand of the Creative Ireland Programme. To facilitate community engagement with creative activities, each of the 31 local authorities has established a Culture Team and has a designated Creative Ireland co-ordinator.
In 2017, each local authority published and implemented local Culture and Creativity Plans which were supported by an allocation of €2m (€1m from my Department and €1m from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government). In total, these plans listed over 750 local cultural projects, events and initiatives taking place nationwide last year which gave us a snapshot of the rich cultural activity taking place in each country. The 2017 plan for Kildare can be accessed through this link: https://creative.ireland.ie/en/library/kildare. The Department does not manage the application processes for these funding applications and is not prescriptive as to which creative activity should be prioritised.
Each local authority is now in the process of drawing up more detailed five-year Strategic Creativity Plans which will be published later this year. These strategies will be accompanied by an Activity Plan outlining initiatives being supported by the local authorities in their respective areas. The implementation of these Activity plans will be supported by a sum of €3m (€2m from my own Department and €1m from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government). Each local authority will therefore receive approximately €96,000 this year under the Creative Ireland Programme.
