Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is mór agam an deis seo a fháil Meastacháin mo Roinne do 2015 a phlé inniu.

My Department has responsibility for the conservation, preservation, protection, development and presentation of Ireland's heritage and culture. It also seeks to promote the Irish language, support the Gaeltacht and to assist the sustainable development of island communities.

A gross provision of almost €273 million is available to my Department for these purposes in 2015. An additional €6.216 million in funding has been carried over from the 2014 capital provision.

In broad terms, the 2015 breakdown of allocations to my Vote group are as follows. There is over €156 million for arts, culture and film, which includes approximately €59 million for the Arts Council. There is over €39 million for the conservation and protection of Ireland's built and natural heritage, with some €43 million for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and islands, as well as over €38 million for North-South co-operation, including support for two North-South implementation bodies in the form of Waterways Ireland and Foras Teanga. The 2015 allocations again reflect the Government's ongoing commitment to the prudent management of our public finances but this is the first year in many years that there is growth in current funding for my Department. There is also additional funding for key targeted initiatives, including over €17.5 million for the decade of centenaries, including a new €4 million current allocation for 2016, €2 million in additional funding for the Arts Council and €2 million in additional funding for national cultural institutions. There is also €1 million in extra funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta and €1 million in additional funding for peatlands restoration.

I will provide some further detail in respect of the key areas of expenditure under my direct responsibility. The Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, will speak about the relevant aspects of the Gaeltacht, Irish language and the islands programme, and the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, will address matters related to Culture Ireland. My colleagues and I will make brief remarks and are happy to expand on any matter that members may wish to raise afterwards.

A key priority for arts and culture expenditure in my Department for 2015 will be the ongoing commemorations programme. The €4 million announced as part of the 2014 budget will support Ireland 2016, the Government's initiative to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising. It is very important that we commemorate those pivotal events of 100 years ago, which had such a profound impact on the future direction of this country. Ireland 2016 is much more than commemorations, and it presents us with a once in a generation opportunity to evaluate what we have achieved as a nation over the past 100 years and to look to where we want to go in the next 100 years. Further details of the programme will be announced shortly. The capital allocation of €13.5 million for commemorations, supplemented by €1.216 million in carryover from 2014, will provide for a number of flagship projects, or what I would term permanent reminders, to be progressed this year.

These include the development of an interpretive exhibition centre within the GPO complex that will focus on the events of 1916. Other flagship commemorations capital projects in 2015 will include the adaptation of the Kilmainham court house and gaol for use as a new visitor facility, the restoration of the existing premises at Cathal Brugha barracks to provide front-of-house facilities for visitors to the archive and for a state of the art storage facility for the military pensions archive. There will be development of a new visitor centre at Teach an Phiarsaigh at Rosmuc and a tenement museum at 14 Henrietta Street, along with the refurbishment of Richmond barracks, where the leaders of the 1916 Rising were held after their surrender, as a cultural, educational, training, heritage, tourist and community facility. The 2015 funding will also support the following projects, which form part of the Ireland 2016 commemorations programme. There will be development of the recital rooms at the National Concert Hall, as well as ancillary works to the foyer and front-of-house facilities. There will be redevelopment of the National Archives at the Bishop Street headquarters. Turning to other areas, I am very pleased that 2015 sees the first increase in current allocations for national cultural institutions which share an additional current allocation of €2 million for 2015. Furthermore, the major €32 million renovation of the National Gallery continues this year.

The important and valuable work of the Arts Council has also been recognised and reflected in the 2015 current allocation of almost €59 million, which is an increase of €2 million over the 2014 allocation. That will allow the council to continue to support arts organisations of various sizes, from national bodies such as the Abbey Theatre to small, locally based groups across a very broad range of individual art forms and practices.

Funding is also provided to meet the anticipated demand in 2015 for funding in respect of the Cork events centre. A sum of €2.5 million is provided in 2015 for Culture Ireland. The Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, will expand on the priorities for Culture Ireland in his contribution.

With regard to heritage, funding of €39.3 million has been made available for the Department's heritage programme. This includes over €31 million allocated for current expenditure, with a further €7.9 million in capital funding. A further €3.75 million in funding has been carried over from the 2014 capital provision. 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. This is reflected in the allocation of an additional €1 million in 2015 for peatlands restoration. Priority will also continue to be given to the turf cutter compensation schemes and investment in alternative turf cutting sites for affected cutters.

The Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, will speak about the relevant aspects of the Gaeltacht, Irish language and island Estimates in his address to the committee, so I will proceed to North-South co-operation.

A provision of more than €38.5 million is 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.

Ireland's heritage and culture are of enormous inherent value. In addition, they make a significant contribution towards growing the economy and helping to create jobs. I will be happy to expand on any matter the members might wish to raise after the Ministers of State make their contributions.