Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I apologise as I got called out of Leinster House so I was unable to be on the call until I returned. I compliment the organisations on the work they have done, not just in the past 12 months but over the years, and the entertainment they provide for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country.

I am a frequent visitor to the Backstage Theatre in Longford, which is an excellent facility, not just for Longford but for the entire midlands. The theatre is excellently run by Mona Considine. I am a lover of musicals in particular and I am in St. Mel's Musical Society. The standard of the shows that are put on by the Backstage Theatre, the musical society or the Evolution Stage School is top class. It rivals or is even better than the West End or Broadway. I have seen shows in both of those places and I have seen shows at home and I have enjoyed the ones I saw at home in my local area far more.

A significant increase in funding was provided to the Arts Council this year. Have the witnesses made any overtures to the Minister regarding the budget for 2022 to maintain that level of the funding?

I agree with the comments on getting arts into schools. We run summer camps and after-school programmes locally. Arts form part of the summer camp to give children an opportunity to get involved at a younger age.

There are significant challenges ahead for all organisations within the arts sector. I have a couple of questions. I apologise if they have been answered. Could the witnesses narrow down the specific areas and services they provide individually? Going forward, what is the number one challenge? If the witnesses had the ear of departmental officials and the Minister today, individually and collectively, what is their one ask that must be supported by the Government and all parties to ensure that we have a thriving arts sector in the future?