Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the witnesses for their presentations. I have some questions. We could drill down into so much detail on the fabulous projects. If my staycation did anything for me, it got me personally down to Waterford to see the Waterford Walls and I have been to Kilkenny city and all of those lovely places to see the great work that is happening on the ground.

We know how transformative the arts can be of our main streets, particularly in rural towns and villages. It is incredible to see the list of schemes and programmes local authorities are implementing, including Our Rural Future, the town centre first policy, urban and rural regeneration projects and the town and village renewal scheme. Every time I go to see one of those schemes being launched, what stands out most to me is how the arts play a hugely important part in the project, whether that is designing a civic space in which artists can work, creating murals or providing outdoor performance spaces. We are all thinking much more about those aspects. Our local authorities have done incredible work right across the country. These developments are all part of our tourism product and will be there to enjoy for the people who come to visit.

Will Mr. Yeates say more about the project relating to hip-hop and suicide prevention that he mentioned briefly? He nailed the issue when he spoke about the need to embed the arts beyond the arts, in the education system, education and training boards, the HSE, Tusla and all the other bodies. That would bring added value to those arms of the State and would really make the arts matter in those areas.

Will any of the witnesses comment on the education aspect and what their experience has been in working with ETBs, further education organisations and so on? Do any of them have any experience of working with the creative schools or local arts partnership projects? I understand three local authorities around the country have rolled out those types of pilot projects. I will go to Mr. Yeates first with those questions.