Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is mór agam an deis seo a fháil inniú chun Meastacháin mo Roinne do 2014 a phlé. I am pleased to have this opportunity to outline the principal features of the 2014 Estimates for my Department.

Members of the House will be aware that my Department oversees and has policy responsibility for the conservation, preservation, protection, development and presentation of Ireland's heritage and. culture. My Department also seeks to promote the Irish language, to support the Gaeltacht and to assist the sustainable development of island communities. A gross provision of almost €264million is available to my Department for these purposes in 2014. A further €10.5 million - some €6.7 million in current funding and almost €3.9 million in capital funding - is provided through Vote 34 for the National Gallery.
In broad terms, the 2014 allocations to my Vote group are as follows: over €148 millionfor arts, culture and film, including almost €57 millionfor the Arts Council; over €45 million for the conservation and protection of Ireland's built and natural heritage; more than €41 million for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the islands; and over €39 millionfor North-South co-operation, including support for two North-South implementation bodies, Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga.

As members will appreciate, as a consequence of the need to meet challenging fiscal targets we have just not had the resources available in recent years to fund all the services that we would like to provide. While the 2014 allocations again reflect the Government's commitment to restoring confidence in our public finances, I welcome in particular the provision of almost €25 million to my Department in respect of economic stimulus measures announced on budget day. My Department makes a significant contribution to supporting economic activity and employment across the country, both in the sectors that it directly supports and equally in the context of cultural tourism. The new jobs rich initiatives being funded underline the importance of the role arts and heritage can play in both job creation and economic recovery and will make a considerable positive impact on the arts and heritage sectors throughout 2014. These initiatives include €10 million for the Cork civic event centre; €6 million for the Limerick National City of Culture 2014; €5 million for the traditional skills and buildings at risk jobs leverage scheme 2014; and €3.7 million for projects relating to the decade of centenaries 1912-1922.

I will now provide some further detail in respect of the key areas of expenditure under my direct responsibility. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley, will speak about the relevant aspects of the Gaeltacht, Irish language and islands programmes.

Some €148.5million has been allocated to the arts, culture and film subheads, including the National Gallery, this year. This increased funding, which amounts to more than €2.8 million per week, makes an important contribution to protecting jobs and stimulating creativity across the country. Ireland's cultural and creative industries also play a major role in defining a positive image for Ireland abroad. My Department continues to place emphasis on front-line services, as well as on prioritising supports to artists.

With regard to film making activities, I was very pleased that the Minister for Finance, in his 2014 budget speech, confirmed his intention to bring forward the new regime for film tax reliefs to 2015 and also to extend the definition of "eligible individual" within the scheme to include non-EU talent. This will significantly increase the attractiveness of Ireland as a destination for film investment. The extension of the film tax relief scheme, section 481, until the end of 2020 represented a major vote of confidence in the audiovisual production sector by the Government. It provides the sector with continuity and certainty for the future and allows projects to proceed in the knowledge that this important underpinning of the industry will be there for the next seven years.

Given the significant investment in arts infrastructure in recent years, the focus now is to ensure that resources are made available to support the operation of those facilities. Nevertheless, a number of significant projects will continue to be funded in 2014 including, for example, the Solas cinema project in Galway and the West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen, County Cork. An additional €10 millionin funding is being provided to fund the redevelopment of the National Gallery historic wings over the course of 2014 to 2016. A provision of €1 million is to be provided in 2014, with the remainder in 2015 and 2016. This project will ensure that the gallery's important collections can be shown and protected in an appropriate forum. It will also enable the gallery to host international exhibitions and, in the longer term, to increase its contribution towards the country's cultural tourism offering.

The valuable work of the Arts Council in supporting the intrinsic cultural, tourism and economic value of the arts throughout the country has been recognised, and this is reflected in the 2014 current allocation of almost €57 million which will allow the council to continue to support arts organisations of varying sizes, from national bodies such as the Abbey Theatre to small, locally-based groups, across a very broad range of individual art forms and arts practices.

Culture Ireland, a division of the Department, will continue to promote Irish artists worldwide with the aim of showcasing our world-class strengths in culture and creativity and restoring Ireland's global reputation. When I announced a new national city of culture initiative last year it was with the aim of delivering a programme of cultural events and engagement in a city for one year, but which also has a longer-term positive impact. With €6 million in capital funding available, this programme represents a highly significant investment in the arts in the mid-west. The allocation offers Limerick a fantastic opportunity to unlock the tremendous creativity that has been associated with the city and to put on a programme of events of national importance.

The funding of the decade of centenaries is also significant, as it allows us to move ahead with the planning and implementation of major building projects to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising. The Government is also providing €10 million in funding for a multi-functional event centre in Cork city. This project has the potential to provide a significant economic and employment boost to Cork city and county and my Department will work with the city council to progress the project as promptly as possible.

Some €10.5 millionis provided to the Vote of the National Gallery in addition to the €138 million in funding provided for the arts, culture and film sector by my Department. In 2014, the gallery will continue to focus on delivering the best service possible within the resources available.

Funding of some €45.3 millionhas been made available for the Department's heritage programme. This includes almost €33 million allocated for current expenditure with a further €12.5 millionin capital funding. Funding will continue to be made available to support the work of the Heritage Council in its redefined role, the principal function of which will be in the areas of facilitating the grant-aiding of heritage from various sources and engaging with and supporting local government and communities in capacity building and support. The Department will continue to provide support, protection and advisory services for Ireland's built and archaeological heritage. This includes policy input in support of cross-governmental sustainability objectives. With regard to natural heritage, the key outputs in 2014 will focus on the maintenance, development, management and operation of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and meeting obligations under EU directives.

With regard to capital expenditure, the allocation of €5 million on heritage buildings as part of my Department's stimulus measures is the most significant investment in heritage buildings in Ireland in recent times. The built heritage job leverage scheme will allow for urgent repairs on protected heritage buildings to take place across the country, improving our heritage stock, adding to Ireland's attractiveness as a place to live and work, and generating employment in the construction and skilled crafts trades.

I also welcome the decision to extend the living city initiative, introduced last year, to Cork, Galway, Kilkenny and Dublin, for all buildings built prior to 1915. This incentive targets Ireland's historic building stock. It is a tangible example of the Government's commitment to sustainable development, so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past, and it focuses on our existing urban core. This scheme, which complements the new investment scheme in the built heritage jobs leverage scheme, will ensure that Ireland's major urban cities are enhanced, continue to have vibrant city centres, and encourage increased tourism and direct inward investment.

Other capital expenditure in 2014 will focus on two main areas - peatland protection and national park investment. The protection of Ireland's unique raised bog special areas of conservation is a key concern, as is the avoidance of major fines by the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Priority will continue to be given to the turf cutter compensation schemes and investment in alternative turf cutting sites for affected cutters. A reduced capital budget will target a small number of key tourism investments in the national parks. Turf cutting and the protection of designated raised bogs remain key concerns for my Department. I am determined to address this issue in a way that is fair, balanced and supportive of those affected. The Department and the Peatlands Council will continue to work closely with turf cutters who are required to cease cutting turf on Ireland’s 53 special area of conservation raised bogs to ensure their needs are met through relocation to a new bog or compensation. A national plan will be implemented for the management of these protected habitats, together with an overarching peatlands strategy to set out national policy on the future of all of Ireland's peatlands.

Other built heritage capital investment will support the activities of the Heritage Council, provide some funding for structures at risk and support the new heritage towns initiative. My Department is liaising with local authorities and communities with a view to progressing one or more of the sites on Ireland's world heritage tentative list to full world heritage status. The inscription of another world heritage site could only help to enhance Ireland's growing reputation as a heritage tourism destination and a good environment for economic investment and job creation. Heritage functions in my Department will continue to be supported through the environment fund in 2014. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has overall responsibility for the operation of the environment fund and will decide on the total level of allocation from the fund in due course.

Some €41.4 million, comprising current investment of €32.9 million and capital investment of €8.5 million, has been allocated for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the islands in 2014. This includes an allocation of more than €17 million for Údarás na Gaeltachta to enable it to continue its vital work in creating employment opportunities in Gaeltacht areas and developing the skill sets of people in the Gaeltacht, thereby enabling them to take maximum advantage of available employment opportunities. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley, will speak about the relevant aspects of the Estimate for the Gaeltacht, the Irish language and the islands.

I am committed to developing North-South co-operation within the broader arts, heritage and commemorative activities of my Department, as well as through the funding of North-South bodies. More than €39 million is being made available to support the two North-South Implementation Bodies, An Foras Teanga - comprising Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency - and Waterways Ireland. These budgets will be subject to the approval of the North-South Ministerial Council in due course. The provision will enable Waterways Ireland to deliver on its core activities and targets which include keeping the waterways open for navigation during the main boating season and promoting increased use of the waterways resource for recreational purposes. This expenditure should also assist in developing and promoting the waterways, attracting increased numbers of overseas visitors and stimulating business and regeneration in these areas. Capital funding of almost €4 million is being made available to Waterways Ireland to facilitate the ongoing maintenance and restoration of Ireland’s inland waterways, thereby increasing recreational access along waterway routes. The 2014 provision will also enable An Foras Teanga to continue to support the valuable cultural heritage we share on the island, North and South. Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency will continue to support language and cultural organisations and schemes throughout the island.

I am confident that the funds being made available will enable my Department and the sectors it represents to make a significant contribution to growing the economy and helping to create jobs. I will be happy to expand on any matter Deputies may wish to raise.