Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
1311. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grants are available for community choir groups (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4125/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary support for the Arts is delivered through the Arts Council. Funding for the Arts Council has increased in recent years and now stands at €80.5 million in 2020, and increase of some €5.5m or 7.3% over 2019.
Although there is no funding for choirs available from my Department, the Arts Council funds Sing Ireland (formally known as the Association of Irish Choirs). The Arts Council allocation to Sing Ireland has increased incrementally in the last number of years from €126,000 in 2016, €145,000 in 2017, €156,000 in 2018 and to €179,000 in both 2019 and 2020. Sing Ireland supports organisations around the country, including voluntary and community choirs, through their online and other resources.
The Creative Ireland Programme provides significant support to local authorities to enable them curate a programme of local events and activities each year. Each local authority has complete discretion as to how to allocate this amount once it relates to the cultural sector (the arts, creativity, heritage, history projects, the Irish language, etc.). Some local authorities have used this funding to set up specific local grant schemes or supported specific projects.
The main source of funding for local community events and activities under the Creative Ireland Programme is Creative Communities . In 2019, total funding of €3m was allocated to all 31 local authorities (approximately €96,000 each) to enable them to support an extensive programme of activities, events and initiatives in the county. Each local authority has established a Creative Ireland Co-coordinator and a local Culture Team to manage and allocate this funding in accordance with local needs and in line with their own, individual 5-year Culture and Creativity Strategy. Nearly 1,500 projects were funded nationwide in 2019 covering a broad range of topics including archaeology, architecture, biodiversity, crafts, heritage, drama, dance, literature, music, storytelling and the visual arts.
