Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht

Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 33 - Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

2:15 pm

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is great working happening within the Department from the Minister's office down through the different staff. I congratulate the staff on that.

Obviously there are a couple of difficulties. It is a large public area and there can be differences in opinions on how things can be done.

I concur with previous speakers that the allocation of moneys by a Government is its articulation of policy intent. The fact that the arts and Irish language have been the poor relations in the Department speaks loudly to many people in these sectors around the country where they appear in the pecking order of Government priority.

A line in one of the Department's documents reads, "To promote and develop Ireland world class artistic" development, etc. So far, I have not seen comparative analysis within the documentation from the Department. World class arts can only be measured in a comparative fashion against other jurisdictions. Earlier the chairperson designate for the National Concert Hall was in attendance and we had an interesting discussion on the fact that 320,000 people visit the venue. It seems a great figure but I wonder has the Department compared that number with the equivalent of the National Concert Hall in Denmark as the country is similar in size? What outputs per euro does the hall in Denmark receive from state investment? It is not a problem if the Minister does not have those figures. I would like if the Department delivered to the committee a comparative analysis in terms of bang for buck and outputs, although clearly the Department cannot be measured just in terms of bang for buck. Has the Department carried out comparisons? If not, will the Minister consider doing so?

My next question is topical and relates to the Irish Film Board. Last night a "Prime Time" debate on the Picture Palace in Galway was broadcast. A lot of people are deeply concerned that €9 million from multiple State sources was invested in the building yet it stands in dereliction. Is the Minister happy that the investment by the State is fully safeguarded?

There seems to be a difference of opinion between the Minister and the chief executive of Galway City Council. The Minister felt that the building was in the ownership or at least the control of the city council. When RTE sought to go on the site they were told by Solas Galway Picture Palace that they were not entitled to do so. There was an incongruity with regard to those two voices. I ask her to clarify the matter.

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