Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I compliment Deputy Robert Troy and thank Senator Fiach Mac Conghail for his presentation yesterday evening. A recurring theme to emerge from this debate is the message that the arts are a necessity not a luxury, an asset not an overhead. I cannot imagine an Ireland in which citizens could not participate in the enjoyment of arts and culture.

As other speakers have observed, the arts make a significant contribution to the economy. The 2011 Arts Council report indicated that the sector provides direct and indirect employment, supporting 21,300 jobs and contributing €306 million in taxes. That is not to say, of course, that the arts should be evaluated solely on economic grounds. However, I draw the Minister's attention to the economic study which showed that the value to the local economy of the Galway Arts Festival was €17.5 million in 2011. It is the arts which drive the tourism industry, with most visitors to this country taking time to visit museums and galleries and attend festivals and events. Studies and surveys show that for 70% of visitors to Galway, the arts festival was a factor in their decision to come. We look forward to this year's event which will begin in two weeks time.

This is not the first campaign to highlight the importance and value of the arts. Three years ago, at a time of threat to arts funding, an event was held outside the town hall in Galway at which politicians were invited to sing, play a musical instrument, recite a poem or tell a story. I recall Pádraic McCormack, then a Member of this House, performing his juggling party piece. The event succeeded in its objective of securing the maintenance of arts funding, for which great credit was due to the organiser, Lelia Doolan. The latter is currently trying to persuade the Department to release the €2.1 million available for the Galway Picture Palace project.

The Minister is undoubtedly aware of the work of Music for Galway. Members of that group have been eager to stress the arms-length principle that has underpinned arts policy and structures in the State for more than 60 years. They have warned against undue political interference and emphasised the importance of having an independent board of the Arts Council. These are important messages to take on board.

It is vital that a cost-benefit analysis is undertaken before proceeding with any of the proposed mergers of cultural institutions. The Minister should begin by speaking to people in those institutions about the ways in which savings and efficiencies might be achieved. Some mergers might end up being more costly in the long run, as happened in Canada where, as I understand it, the amalgamation of the national library and national archives cost some CAN $15 million. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett used the analogy of merging sporting bodies to illustrate the absence of a sound rationale for such proposals. The question was raised last night as to whether the GAA, FAI and IRFU should be merged on the basis that they all represent ball sports, with each code merely using a different type of ball. That is clearly absurd.

To sum up, we must avoid short-term decisions which might endanger the future of the arts sector. Instead, we should encourage participation, foster innovation and continue to enhance Ireland's reputation in the arts on the world stage. It is important to appreciate the economic potential of the arts and the creative industry. I will reject any plan for the merging of cultural institutions which would tend to undermine their independence and prove damaging to our cultural heritage.

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