Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Minister of State and their officials for coming in this afternoon. In regard to heritage, one of the best moves made was the appointment of heritage officers in each county council. One of the disadvantages of the downturn is that they have had less money to distribute.

I very much welcome the buildings at risk leverage scheme and the provision of €5 million. I know a number of people who own buildings at risk and, in many ways, they have been victims of the downturn. One of the criteria attaching to the application for funding under the buildings at risk leverage scheme is that they must provide matching funding up to the maximum of €15,000. Will the Minister consider revising that because some of those people who are genuinely in possession of key structures may not be able to match funding to that level and yet they would need that level and possibly more? Will the Minister consider that where people are able to prove they cannot match that funding? Overall, I very much welcome that scheme.

The Arts Council has been under-funded for years, even at the height of the boom. The developmental work it is doing in terms of the arts is second to none. It should be commended on what it is doing. I am a little worried that the reason for the reduction is that it is to focus its support on the clients' artistic rather than administrative needs. Many of its clients, in particular smaller companies, would perhaps need the assistance of administrators to help with application forms and so on and I am a little worried that might have a negative impact on them. I would very much appreciate it if the Minister explained the thinking around that.

I refer to the funding of our national institutions. I do not believe I have ever got in free to museums or to various other institutions abroad. I have noticed that if a particular project is being developed, such institutions have a donations box. Is this something at which we should consider in the National Gallery and the National Museum, which are outstanding resources for ourselves and for visitors. Would it be possible to have a donations box discretely but visibly placed? International travellers are used to paying for things, so a donations box could be a good way to raise some money. I would like to know if that has been examined.

I very much welcome developments in regard to Irish Film Board, the continued support for section 481 and the work the film board is doing in supporting film-making. We have some very fine people involved in the film-making business and they are tremendous ambassadors for us internationally. However, I would like to know if any consideration is being given to encouraging the Irish Film Board to focus on regional film-making. I see the benefit of regional film commissions, one of which I am involved in, and those involved would like it to be developed throughout the country. Has the Irish Film Board been requested to examine the potential of supporting regional film-making?

The philanthropy scheme was a great idea. What has been the uptake? It has been on the go for a year and half.

Culture Night and the City of Culture are great initiatives. The fact Culture Night has gone nationwide has really added something new to the calendar culturally and artistically in rural and urban areas. It is a date in almost everybody's diary and I very much support it. I also very much support the City of Culture initiative, which has great potential. In the future, I suppose people will vie for it but I would like to see it extended to county towns as well as cities.

I acknowledge the work done by the Peatlands Council and commend the two chairs, Mr. Conor Skehan and Mr. Séamus Boland, and all of the stakeholders on their very responsible and constructive approach to dealing with this matter. The Minister mentioned the cost to date but does he have a total figure on what it will cost or is there a fixed budget for it in the short term to solve the problems throughout the country?

In regard to Waterways Ireland, a consultation process is underway to review regulations and costs. I am a little concerned by some matters raised with me by users of the waterways, in particular the canals, for leisure and recreational purposes and whether these will cause more problems. They are concerned about having to move their boats on a more regular basis and the costs involved. Will that have a negative impact on tourists and indigenous users? Is there a reason for doing this? Is it to bring us into line with Northern Ireland?