Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2018
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she can assist various local musical and dramatic societies in respect of annual productions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27355/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds the Music Capital Scheme which provides grants to groups and individuals for the purchase of musical instruments. This year an increased allocation of €245,000 was allocated to the Music Capital Scheme with funding awarded to 31 performing groups and 17 individual musicians. Music Network manages the Scheme on behalf of my Department and the organisation referred to by the Deputy can apply for funding under the scheme. Further details are available at www.musicnetwork.ie
While my Department does not fund local dramatic societies, the Creative Ireland Programme does support the work of local authorities in enabling creativity in every community. The local authorities are currently preparing long-term Culture and Creativity Strategies which aim to ensure that people and communities across Ireland will have the opportunity to fully realise their creative potential.
As part of this process, each culture team is consulting widely in relation to how it will implement and deliver the Creative Ireland Programme vision at local level. These Strategies will be accompanied by a separate Activity Programme for 2018 and for every subsequent year of the Strategy. It is expected that both the Strategies and Activity Plans will be published later this year.
The implementation of these 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) with each local authority therefore receiving approximately €96,000 this year under the Creative Ireland Programme.
