Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:28. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason she does not have a detailed national music strategy. [27052/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 21 June 2018
Ceisteanna (28)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the Arts Act, the Arts Council is the primary means through which the Government provides support for the arts sector including music and opera. The Arts Council's Strategy document entitled Making Great Art Work which is being delivered through its Three-Year Plan 2017-2019, sets out its response to the changing nature of artistic practice and engagement with the arts including music in Ireland. The Arts Council provides a range of schemes and initiatives which provide support for all genres of music, and is funded by my Department.
In addition to the Arts Council significant support, I provided a budget of €6 m as part of Budget 2018 to further the implement the Creative Ireland Programme. This will ensure that the Department can build on the work accomplished in 2017, continue to drive the implementation of the Programme at local level and fund specific actions and priorities which further the wider aims of the Programme. The Creative Ireland Programme includes among its commitments a number of strategic measures aimed at supporting a wide number of arts forms including music and its many genres
My Department also supports the wider music sector through a number of initiatives for example:-
- The commitment in the Creative Ireland Programme that every child will have access to tuition in Music, Drama, Art and Coding by 2022.
- A new national day of creativity for children and young people, Cruinniú na nÓg on 23 June 2018 with €0.8 m being allocated to the initiative which aims to get as many young people involved in creative activities including musical ones with an emphasis on making, doing, seeing and experiencing. Every local authority has been allocated €10,000 to fund a programme of local activities while there will be a special programme of activities across Dublin City.
- Annual funding of €1.6 m is provided to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) in 2018 for its work in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture. CCÉ provides weekly classes at community level in all traditional instruments, singing, and dance through its network of centres and branches all over the country.
- The provision of support for the purchase of equipment under the Music Capital Scheme to performing groups and individual talented musicians. Support of €224,000 was recently under Scheme for 2017/18.
- Culture Ireland, provides supports for Irish artists and musicians to travel abroad and develop their careers.