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Culture Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2022

Tuesday, 21 June 2022

Ceisteanna (220)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

220. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the additional supports that have been given to local authorities to allow the fulfilment of long-term strategic cultural and arts planning. [32172/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under Section 6 of the Arts Act 2003,  local authorities are required to prepare and implement plans for the development of the arts within their functional areas.  My Department provides a range of supports to local authorities in respect of artistic, cultural and creative programmes and measures in place in local authorities.

Creative Ireland was launched in 2017 as an all-of-Government culture and wellbeing programme committed to the vision that every person should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential.  Established as a legacy initiative of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, Creative Ireland collaborates across Government and with arts, community and voluntary organisations to deploy creativity as a strategy for wellbeing, social cohesion and economic success.  Alongside its very successful Creative Youth initiative, the programme’s Creative Communities partnership with the 31 local authorities, and their delivery of thousands of creative projects, has been key to enabling community-led nationwide engagement.

Through the Creative Communities initiative in the Creative Ireland Programme, I have significantly increased the funding provided to local authorities for implementation of their Culture and Creativity Strategies from just over €3 million in 2018 to an allocation of €6.3 million in 2022. This funding supported additional community-led initiatives including in relation to children and young people, health & wellbeing of older people, economic development and climate action. In February 2022, Government agreed in principle that the Creative Ireland Programme, including its Creative Communities initiative, will continue for a further five years encompassing the period 2023-2027.  Throughout 2022, the 31 local authorities are developing, through public consultation, new 5 year Culture and Creativity Strategies to enable the delivery of community-led creative projects and initiatives. The Government has agreed to extend the Creative Ireland Programme to 2027.

My role as Minister with responsibility for leading the co-ordination of the Decade of Centenaries Programme (2012-2023) is to help ensure that the challenging events of this important and formative period in our history and related themes, are meaningfully, proportionately and sensitively remembered.  Last December, I announced funding of €2 million for local authorities in 2022, to support their leading role in developing community-led commemorative activities, for the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries Programme.

The Arts Council’s Framework for Collaboration Agreement with the County and City Management Association (CCMA) is critical to the success of many of the Arts Council initiatives. Much of these have been achieved in this respect with an Arts Service in each of the principal local authorities in the country. Similarly, a long-term partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta on our Ealaín na Gaeltachta programme has resulted in a significant level of arts development in Gaeltacht areas.

Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres are initiated and funded by local authorities.  Support provided to arts facilities by local authorities and the Arts Council is critical to ensuring that a stable and vibrant network can be maintained.  Such facilities are also supported through small capital grant schemes operated by my Department.

In response to Covid-19,  capital funding towards the pilot Outdoor Public Space Scheme 2021  by my Department is intended to fund local authorities to adapt, equip or otherwise improve public spaces for cultural and events activities, taking account of public health guidelines and of the needs of the local arts community. Outdoor public spaces that can provide year-round use can improve well-being and contribute positively to the public realm.

In addition, significant funding has been provided by my Department in 2021 and 2022 for the Local Live Performance Support Scheme.

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