Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

How might such an initiative be measured? In my experience the initiative was carried out in an ad hoc fashion. I am from County Mayo and acknowledge that there has been some welcome funding and input from the Arts Council for venues in Mayo. I know that a lot of the venues operate on a shoestring budget. Notwithstanding receiving funding from local authorities, it is important to have a partnership approach. The Arts Council has stipulated its desired arts programme on many occasions but has not provided the necessary funding. Instead, funding is given to long established arts venues located primarily in the cities. I do not wish to diminish those venues but we need more outreach work that is not done on such an ad hoc basis and per arts venue. More support should be given to community arts.