Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
258. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of arts studio spaces that have been made available in Dublin per year since the launch of the last Art Development Plan 2015-2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18971/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Art Development Plan 2015-2022 is a Dublin City Council publication. Its content and implementation is a matter for Dublin City Council. County and city councils prepare and implement plans for the development of the arts within their functional areas in accordance with their functions under the Section 6 of the Arts Act 2003 and Section 67 of the Planning and Development Act 2001.
The Deputy may be interested to know that my Department has allocated an amount of up to €3 million to Dublin City Council specifically to assist in the provision of artists’ workspaces in Dublin City. The City Council has been examining a range of sites for their suitability to best capitalise on the €3m investment. This investment together with that from the local authority is intended to assist in providing artist workspaces in Dublin City.
Recent decades have seen the development of a nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres, many of which were initiated and funded by local authorities. These centres also benefit from capital schemes operated by my Department. Annual support provided to these arts centres by local authorities and the Arts Council is critical to ensuring that a stable and vibrant network can be maintained.
