Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar an chéad dul síos, caithfidh mé a admháil go bhfuil an-chuid figiúrí os ár gcomhair agus bheadh sé dodhéanta dul tríothu ar fad san an am atá againn. Fáiltím roimh na ráitis cabharthach atá tugtha dúinn ag an Aire agus an Aire Stáit. Sa bhformhór, bheinn i bhfábhar formmór na liúntas atá luaite anseo.

I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for their presentations. I will begin with the issue of heritage. It is important to acknowledge that the Minister deserves to be commended. While the arts and cultural heritage have an obvious intrinsic value - something of which we were conscious in the context of the recent controversy in Limerick - it is nonetheless worthwhile, valuable and important to emphasise the employment opportunities and economic activity that can flow from the proper development of arts, cultural and heritage resources. To some extent, this is at play in the Estimates, in which there are two figures in respect of the stimulus package available. The figure of €18 million is mentioned in one location, while in his presentation the Minister mentioned a figure of €25 million. Will he give us some indication of how he sees this money being invested and leveraging other funds from the private sector to generate some sustainable employment in particular areas?

On a number of occasions here we have welcomed the security the Government has brought to film production and the work of the Irish Film Board. The investment being made is supported by the arts community and the public. Given that we have had many years of public investment in film and television production, are we or when will we begin to see some return from that investment to the Exchequer? I am astonished to read in the document circulated to us the number of films produced with State aid. I commend all those involved and Bord Scannán Éireann for the work they have been doing.

Expenditure in respect of the National Gallery of Ireland and the national museums is covered by the Estimates. It is unfortunate that there has been a massive cutback of €740,000 in the funding available for regional centres such as galleries, cultural centres and museums. I know we are in difficult times, but the value of these centres is enormous. They are greatly valued by the communities in which they are located. To return to the point made by the Minister, there are also valuable economic outflows from investment in this area. Are we, therefore, being penny wise and pound foolish in depriving these art centres of the funding they require?

The allocation to the Arts Council has seen radical reductions in recent years. The Minister now sets out where the focus will be in spending. One element that has caught my eye is that funding will be concentrated on building based organisations. What exactly does the Minister have in mind in that regard?

I welcome the provision of €10 million, albeit spread over three years, for the work on the redevelopment of the historic wings of the National Gallery of Ireland. When we see the numbers visiting the gallery, we know that work needs to be done. We can appreciate what is being done in it.

In regard to the national city of culture initiative, we will refrain from getting into a debate on the situation in Limerick and the unfortunate developments there. The city of culture initiative is really worthwhile.

Everybody who was involved in it deserves to be commended. I read recently that the Minister has suggested that the next city of culture will not be launched until 2016. Notwithstanding the hiccups that have been encountered in Limerick, I wonder whether an annual initiative would be feasible. To what extent has that possibility been examined?