Ms Rosaleen Molloy:

On a point of clarification, within the context of our conversation around music in Ireland today, a lot of the discussion has been around music education. It is important to clarify that the space that Music Generation lives in is that of performance music education, which adds value and enriches mainstream formal education but does not replace that curriculum. When we talk about teachers in schools, the space that Music Generation lives in is very much that of the professional musician, a part of whose practice involves music education. We very much deliver vocal and instrumental tuition across all genres, styles and contexts that adds value and enriches the curriculum but does not deliver the curriculum. That is a very important distinction to make. That is why I referenced musical citizenship and cultural entitlement in that sense.

To answer Senator Warfield's question about whether funding is safe into the future, he will be aware of the announcement the Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar, made in December 2017 where he said Music Generation would be extended countrywide as soon as possible and certainly by 2022. Music Generation is extremely confident it will deliver on that commitment. The funding, as with any Government funding, is subject to the budgetary process but we are absolutely confident we can deliver.

I will address Senator O'Donnell's question about how to lead Music Generation. The Senator mentioned the Department. Music Generation has a very close and productive partnership with the Department of Education and Skills. Since my appointment in June 2010 we have worked very hard to cultivate a very productive relationship with the Department. Music Generation is built on collaboration and partnership. When the Senator asks how to get it led, the answer to that question is that the leadership needs to come at local level from those who own it. This is not something that can be owned by any Government Department or the national development office working in a catalytic way. The owners of this are the local partners who take it on and the communities in which it lives, the musicians that breathe life into it, who inspire children and young people. Fundamentally the children and young people are those custodians of it. Our role is very much working as an enabler, a broker, a catalyst to encourage that sense of ownership so we can build musical communities that own and need this.

That really is the answer to the question. Those communities have to be supported within an ecosystem of well connected partnerships that operate on various different levels.