Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 April 2021
42. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has any plans for funding incentives or policies for cultural institutions to tackle inequality by ensuring increased access and participation for persons on lower incomes and from working class backgrounds. [22447/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe annual allocations to the national cultural institutions include provision for all aspects of their activities. The development of policies including education programmes and outreach initiatives is addressed as an operational matter by the management and Board in each individual institution. The cultural institutions make a constant effort to increase general visitor numbers, encourage repeated visits and to attract additional visitors through special exhibitions and programmes. Special events and outreach programmes are developed to appeal to a younger audience and to stimulate an interest in the collections. Although I have no direct role in relation to the promotional and access policies, I welcome the commitment of the institutions to promote public interest and engagement with the national collections.
It should be noted that entry to the National Cultural Institutions is free of charge. Furthermore, an additional €17.3m was provided in 2021 toward operations and development costs of the National Cultural Institutions.
