Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wonder how much we are promoting and helping local communities to keep events going, because, for example, the cost of insurance is causing a massive problem for local committees. They are having trouble both costing and paying for it. Some festivals that have run for 50 years or more are now dying away because the cost of insurance is so high. We have wonderful events such as the Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival in Castleisland in November, the World Fiddle Day in Scartaglin, the traditional 15 August fair in Kenmare and Sneem. Everyone can speak for his or her own place, but right around County Kerry festivals and local communities are having massive difficulty in sourcing insurance. If the Minister could help in some way to promote these festivals and to retain our culture, it would be greatly appreciated. Many small villages and towns now have lost many of their shops. Some may have a post office and some may not. Festivals are often the only way the identity of these towns can be retained, whether it is Maurice O'Keeffe Festival in Kiskeam or the Con Curtin Festival in Brosna. They are having a massive problem in keeping these things going, and we need to assist them to promote their events in the first place and to help with the insurance. If we lose these local events, we most likely will lose our identity, and local identity is very important. It is incumbent on me to stress the need to help these communities which do so much good voluntary work on their own. They have run up against a block wall now in terms of the cost of insurance. I am asking the Minister to help these communities to help themselves.