Ms Annette Nugent:

I will pick on two points the Senator raised and reiterate what Ms Kennelly said and support her. Yes, more investment will be needed. There has been a massive increase in the cost of living in the past couple of years. Notwithstanding the amazing leap the State has made in investing in the arts in the past couple of years, it needs to continue. For many years the sector was probably underfunded. Artists themselves have a history of subsidising their own work and not paying themselves well, which is another issue, and I am not quite sure how we come at that one.

On the space issue, temporary space and space that is not purpose built, and Sample-Studios in Cork is a great example, that is not ideal but a huge variety of space is required. Cork City Council's recent arts strategy has named one of its priorities as providing space for art. The council is going at it in multiple ways and is proposing trying to do something about opening up access to temporary space. It is actually part of the solution as well as purpose-built space and access to housing for artists. We need all of those buttons to be pressed to solve the one issue.