Ms Maureen Kennelly:

The Senator asked particularly about local groups. Arts centres, as we know, are a fantastic cradle for activity on the ground. Our support to arts centres totalled over €8 million this year. The committee will know that the complexion of activity in arts centres is a combination of local, regional, national and sometimes international activity. The Senator has also referenced the new pilot scheme which we were delighted to introduce. That scheme links the voluntary sector with professional artists. The support we can give is through those art centres and festivals which inject vibrancy into local communities. We also give support to individual artists through the many bursaries, the agility award and all the individual schemes we have and in which we have been able to multiply our investment. The support we can give is through the core infrastructure of the built environment where, of course, we work very closely with our partners in local authorities. Professor Kenny referenced the fact that more than 50 arts centres are supported by the Arts Council. That is achieved working closely in partnership with the local authority and reaching out to the community. I know that many committee members have been involved in the creation and establishment of those arts centres. They are powerful channels to audiences. Even with the restrictions during the pandemic, arts centres have managed to open and be truly civic community spaces for their population. We want to fund them to an even greater degree. Multi-annual funding has been referenced and that is very much on our radar because we need to strengthen the core infrastructure and make sure it is there and in rude health for future generations.