Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I am getting bowed down in the Doric pillars and what is what and where is what. Perhaps Ms Banotti might answer that and put our minds at rest. Perhaps somebody might write down what Creative Ireland is. We know what it is individually but we do not know what it is relative to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht or the Department of Education and Skills. I agree it is a wonderful linchpin and a wonderful bridge over the River Kwai, but I do not know where it begins and ends. We are getting bogged down and perhaps a bit conspiratorial.

What plans has the Department of Education and Skills for the education of teachers in creativity and the arts? I refer to arts in education. There is much continuing professional development, CPD. Where is the money for that? Where and how is that happening? Is it going to happen on an ongoing basis and can people link into it in the teacher training colleges? Will Mr. Moran lock that in for me? It is very important and will not happen in many ways without that. Sometimes people can think they are creative when they are not at all. What is the standard and what is the Department doing in regard to that aspect? Could more attention have been given to DEIS schools? Could they have been prioritised more? I know they are there and I know the Department wants fair play. Could more schemes have been initiated in that sector or could those schools have had slightly easier access?

I welcome this and I think it is extraordinary. I saw creativity happen through the heritage weeks for years. It is wrong to say that it never happened before. It did happen before but sometimes it might not have been recognised. People did it on their own and groups got together. It is wonderful to bring all the conservation officers, heritage officers, musicologists and teachers together at the level of the community, education and training boards, or schools. I have a side question.

Do representatives from the Department of Education and Skills have any comment to make on Galway 2020? We are being drip fed stories in the press and newspapers about there being many changes, spaces, artistic disquiet and noises off, to use the playwright's term.