Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 207:

In page 66, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(p) recognition, protection and regulation of night venues.”.

To help with time, I will speak to all of the amendments as a single group. I may come back on individual elements of the Minister of State's response, if necessary. If the Cathaoirleach will bear with me for a second, I just want to check one of the amendments. The background to this is a growing concern at the loss of cultural and nighttime spaces and the nighttime and cultural economy, whether for profit or not for profit, particularly in our large urban centres. This range of amendments tries to insert requirements for the adequate consideration of cultural spaces in the sections of the Bill that relate to development plans, economic development strategies and housing strategies. These include section 46, which relates to plan-making in respect of sustainable places, and section 47, which includes responsibilities in respect of climate change. In various sections of the Bill, there are references to amenities and facilities. This cluster of amendments is about the need to specifically include reference to cultural spaces.

I will speak to a couple of the amendments in a little more detail. Amendment No. 318 seeks to insert into section 41, which relates to development plans, a requirement to provide "a statement demonstrating the manner in which the plan incorporates objectives to facilitate and support culture and recreation, including artistic creativity and performance, and to secure access for all to participate in, learn, enjoy, and engage with the arts in their community, including through the provision, protection and promotion of cultural spaces within the functional area to which the development plan relates". The wording of the amendment is pretty straightforward. It is not trying to be prescriptive or impose anything on the planning authority. It simply requires those issues to be given due consideration by way of the production of a statement within the context of the development plan.

Similarly, amendment No. 344 proposes to insert into section 42 the following subsection:

(e) the provision, or facilitation of the provision, of accessible cultural infrastructure within communities, including arts spaces for creating, performing, learning and enjoying a diverse range of art forms, Irish language facilities and night venues;

Obviously, "accessible" is used here in the broadest possible sense of the word.

Amendment No. 392 relates to section 47 and the obligations around climate change. Again, I am seeking to insert an obligation to prepare a cultural development strategy with the following requirement:

A planning authority shall in consultation with An Chomhairle Ealaíon, the National Cultural Institutions, Fís Éireann, locally-based cultural institutions as well as local artists, arts workers, arts businesses and communities, prepare a cultural development strategy for their functional area.

Some local authorities already do this or portions of this in their development plans, local area plans, etc. However, as we discussed with reference to the national planning framework, if something is not explicitly referenced, whether in the formulation I have outlined in this amendment or some other formulation, the planning authority is not required to do it. The importance of culture is reflected in the very successful St. Patrick's Day events that took place all over the country at the weekend. The city and county development plans are key locations for strategy statements and plans to promote the use of culture and the provision of cultural spaces. On that basis, I urge the Minister of State to consider the amendments either as they are worded or at least in spirit.