Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, east Galway. I thank all the representatives for the work they do in sustaining and nurturing the arts at all levels, be it those who act as ambassadors for Ireland, tour internationally and represent us so well, right down to those who are creating that ecosystem. I think Mr. McGlynn mentioned the word "ecosystem", which is so important if those kind of artists are to emerge in future.

I will make one comment to all our guests. As best they can in the work they do, I ask them to keep focusing on communities, especially through the work of our arts officers in local authorities. I have direct personal experience of working with some extraordinary people in Galway County Council. They do incredible work on a very limited budget with, sometimes, not exactly overwhelming support either from the executive or council members. Many times they are ploughing a lonely furrow in the work they do. When it is done and performed, and there is a very positive response from the general public, people seem to pile in behind them and say, "Well done" and "That was extraordinary". I ask the representatives to sustain that focus.

Dr. Holstead made a specific reference to rural communities and the challenges they face in having a place to stage performances, whether in the visual arts or whatever it might be. The point was made, perhaps by Senator Cassells, that arts capital funding should be put on an equal footing with sports capital funding, which I wholeheartedly support even, as Deputy McGrath said, if it is on a pilot basis initially with a smaller budget. The sports capital budget is now hovering somewhere around €40 million to €50 million. What that would do for performance and exhibition spaces across our communities, particularly rural communities, would be pretty powerful.

I thank all the witnesses for the work they do. It is incredibly important and something we all support.