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

My Department will provide funding for Galway 2020. This is a big thing for the city. It won the bid and we will support the city in its endeavours and for the projects it will be undertaking for 2020. The salaries of those involved in the project will be a matter for the company involved. A special company has been established to run the European City of Culture. I understand the chief executive and the artistic director have been appointed. The salaries are a matter for the company board. It would not be for me to determine their salaries.

The Senator mentioned arts officers in local authorities, which is a matter for each local authority. I think nearly every local authority has an arts officer. I meet them regularly and we are working on the Creative Ireland plan for every county. Every county has its own Creative Ireland plan now. They are part of the cultural team that has been set up in every county. I do not want to say every single county definitely has an arts officer, but I would be surprised if any did not. There is a big focus. We have provided funding this year for the Creative Ireland programme so that they can prepare their plans for this year and next year.

The Senator mentioned the production of Irish plays in the Abbey Theatre. Of course, we encourage that. I have to recognise these cultural institutions' curatorial independence in programming. As far as Creative Ireland is concerned, I want to see the Irish language permeate through every single pillar. Having Irish language plays and Irish language events is just a natural thing and something we should do even without having to talk about it. Especially through the Creative Ireland plan, I will encourage local authorities to put on Irish language events as part of their normal cultural offering. That is something we would certainly encourage. I know the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, strongly supports that.