Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Arts Promotion

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2021

Thursday, 21 January 2021

Ceisteanna (115, 117, 118, 123)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her ongoing plans to generate increased cultural activity, notwithstanding the ongoing presence of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3516/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she plans to promote the arts remotely or otherwise in 2021 given the persistence of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3518/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department can directly or indirectly engage with those in the promotion of the arts throughout 2021, notwithstanding the difficult health situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3519/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to encourage the promotion of the arts in schools and colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3524/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 117, 118 and 123 together.

The Government has already responded to the challenges facing the arts, and culture sector through a number of recent measures. Some €25 million was provided in June, including €20 million for the Arts Council, as well as additional supports for regional museums. A further €29 million was announced in the July stimulus, including funding for the Arts Council, Screen Ireland, our national cultural institutions, a music stimulus and supports for live performance. Significant additional funding was announced in Budget 2021, with €130 million allocated to the Arts Council for 2021 and €50 million for supports for life performance. Many of the supports in 2021 allowed included provision for extensive online content to be generated. Supports have also been provided to those impacted in the arts, culture, performance and events sector through the pandemic unemployment scheme and various wage subsidy schemes.

In 2021, my Department will continue to expand the delivery of our Creative Ireland programme, including through the innovative Arts and Ageing initiative with IMMA announced late last year, the wider Creativity in Older People programme and the Creativity in Schools initiatives in partnership with the Department of Education. A further 164 schools will participate in the Creative Schools initiative in 2021.

The report of the arts and culture recovery task force, entitled Life Worth Living, has made ten recommendations to aid the survival of this sector during Covid-19 and beyond under three themes: ensuring recovery; building resilience; and facing forward. The ten recommendations seek to protect livelihoods, mitigate income loss; ensure fair play for the makers of creative content; secure the viability of the live events industry; sustain local authority capacity to support arts and culture; ensure well-being; build sectoral capacity; make space for arts and live entertainment; provide more outdoor public spaces for cultural events; and address the environmental impact of arts, culture and event activities. The task force report is extremely beneficial to the Government as we examine ways to help the arts and culture sector to emerge from this unprecedented position.

Question No. 116 answered with Question No. 112.

Questions Nos. 117 and 118 answered with Question No. 115.
Barr
Roinn