Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

This scheme goes back a long way, to 1978, when the Office of Public Works established an artistic embellishment scheme based upon the principles of the per cent for art scheme, whereby 1% of all construction budgets could be applied to an artistic feature. In 1986 the Department of the Environment established a similar scheme and the Minister with responsibility for arts became involved thereafter. It has a long history and has been underused. I would like to breathe new life into it by relaunching it. With that in mind, an interdepartmental committee on public art has been reconvened and has held three meetings to date. The committee is tasked with reviewing the guidelines of the scheme.

Some people confuse the scheme with motorway art. It could be a hospital or school that spends the 1% on its grounds. There is a cap on the scheme and for projects costing between €2.5 million and €6.3 million, an art budget of 1%, up to a maximum of €38,000 is allowed. For projects costing between €6.3 million and €12.7 million, an art budget of €51,000 is allowed. If we are to make progress we must change the caps. The figure of 1% does not quite capture it. I support the concept and would like to breathe new life into it and relaunch it. I will keep the pressure on the committee.

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