Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses it is a fantastic array of witnesses from the arts fraternity in Ireland. I will follow on from the theme of space availability Senator Warfield touched on and that was raised by Ms Nugent and others, because it goes to the heart of what we are discussing. I started in politics 24 years ago as a councillor and when I was on the council in Navan, one of the first things I did was to join Navan Civic Trust.

At the time we were battling to create an arts centre in the town. Many had fought that battle before me, but we were successful in creating the Solstice Arts Centre, which is generously supported by the Arts Council and that is much appreciated. We, therefore, have a very elaborate art space.

Dr. Holstead touched on the matter of rural areas. I am interested in hearing from Ms Nugent or Ms O'Reilly about the work taking place in areas without centres like the Solstice. One of the most magnificent things I saw was when we shut College Green to traffic to create an open canvas for arts. I am thinking of how we can try to replicate that with arts offices in local government countrywide. So many good things happen at a city council level, but it is about trying to ensure they also happen, as Dr. Holstead said, in rural areas around the country. What initiatives are happening from a strategic point of view? As Ms Banotti said, many councils spend a lot of money. We can have all the policy we want, but if there is one good person in a council who has a passion for arts and if a city or county manager wants to see money diverted to that area, then they will make things happen. In a county where it is only a tick-box exercise, the strategic plans at a national level do not permeate down. I am asking for good examples of what is happening around the country and maybe others that are not so good.