Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

The NESF report, The Arts, Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion, and the report to which the Minister referred, In the Frame or Out of the Picture, have indicated clearly that people from disadvantaged socioeconomic or educational backgrounds are less likely to access arts facilities. I am concerned that much of what the Minister said was aspirational, with little delivery thus far on his objectives. I welcome his comments on outreach but much more can be done, such as reduced ticket prices or family entrance fees. Involvement with local government on promoting the arts should be encouraged.

In reply to a parliamentary question put in October, he stated that a strategy committee was to be established. What exactly has happened in that regard, apart from the establishment of the committee? I fear we will have a recurrence of the arts in education report, in respect of which we are still awaiting action after 18 months.

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