Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I take this opportunity to congratulate this group of ten secondary school students from Kilkenny on winning this Most Promising Young Artists award. This project, curated I understand by County Sligo based arts practice, the Kids' Own publishing partnership, emerged a winner from 13 other European entries, as part of the Tallinn Capital of Culture programme in Estonia. This award represents the culmination of a series of initiatives, as well as imagination and commitment on the parts not only of the students but also of a number of agencies, artists and administrators in the youth and arts sectors.

I describe this as a culmination, as I understand the project originated from an artist-in-residence programme undertaken by the arts office in Kilkenny County Council. The artist engaged by the arts office undertook to work with this group of interested young people over a period of weeks, resulting in the production of this fine short-stop animation project. This outcome would have been satisfactory in itself, in that it allowed this set of students the opportunity to explore and develop their talents and produce a tangible result. However, as so often occurs within the arts sector, the project took on another life with its inclusion as part of the Irish entry to the Estonian Capital of Culture programme whereby the Kilkenny students became part of the 56-member party of young Irish people which formed the Irish exposition entry. Again I pay tribute to all those involved. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sé.

The Arts Council has developed and continues to implement its strategy and policies in relation to the engagement of and contribution by young people in the arts sector. The wider context for Arts Council support of young people, children and education in 2011-13 is set out in its strategic overview document, Developing the Arts in Ireland 2011-2013, produced last year.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The Arts Council outlined its work in that document, setting out the key strategic principles that will inform its funding and other decisions, including in the area of young people and the arts over the next few years. This principle includes the provision of high quality arts experiences for young people, both in and out of school, as being an abiding concern of the Arts Council. The council is acutely aware of the high proportion of young people in our population and their developmental significance carries weight in its funding decisions and in its partnerships in the fields of arts-in-education, youth arts, and professional arts provision for young audiences. During 2011-13, the council will endeavour to make the arts more present in the lives of nearly 1 million young people, having regard to the available resources.

I am also anxious that the potential of the arts be recognised and nurtured in the formation of character, in the raising of self-esteem and in the enormous benefits to be derived for young people, now and into the future. In this regard, I will explore with the council, other interested agencies and my Government colleagues, ways of maximising the potential of the arts and other related areas to the benefit of our young people.

On a lighter note, I wish our young hopefuls, Jedward, every success in the Eurovision Song Contest in Dusseldorf this week-end.

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