Mr. Eugene Downes:

To answer Deputy Smyth's question - and I know it was also raised by Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell - as a matter of public record, last year, in a series of public meetings the then director of Creative Ireland asked specifically for submissions and proposals from arts organisations for particular events for strategic partnership with Creative Ireland. We sent in a written proposal, again relating to a talks programme and some other events for children in respect of the first, fourth and fifth pillars, and we received a €15,000 grant. This is all in the public domain. This year, Creative Ireland has issued a specific funding scheme that went public a number of weeks ago. We have engaged with that. It is a public process. There is no outcome from that it yet.

As for the larger question the Deputy asked about Creative Ireland and its relationship to the Arts Council and other funding bodies, I will make two points. As a cross-governmental co-ordinating mechanism, that is a key need. Whether one calls it Creative Ireland or something else I note, having worked in this area in and out of government over the past 25 years, one of the key things we lacked in being able to drive through effective public policy in culture was a cross-governmental mechanism that could drive it through - for example, arts in education. The Department of arts or culture or whatever it has been called over the past 25 years never had the weight in government to be able to drive through a really effective arts in education programme with the Department of Education and Skills. The Department of the Taoiseach, co-ordinating Creative Ireland and chaired by the Secretary General to the Government, is in a position to drive this through. With the creative schools programme, we have seen an example of the benefit that an effective cross-governmental co-ordinating mechanism can have. This is a key part of Creative Ireland's existence. Tania Banotti, someone for whom I have the highest respect, has been appointed director. It is a very exciting appointment because it comes at a pivotal moment. There is a great opportunity for Creative Ireland to play that co-ordinating role in a way that does not duplicate the work of other public bodies. The risk of duplication, obviously, is to be avoided. How that pivot between now and how Tania Banotti's leadership moves forward will be key and the outcome in this regard remains to be seen.