Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)

While I do not have the time to go into the details of the case, I would appreciate it if the Minister met the group. The service it provides covers many Departments and the problem is that it seems to be falling between different stools. I am not proposing that the Minister interfere with the Arts Council's provenance in arts policy, rather I am calling for the Minister to support a good initiative which is a small business but also a community service. It nurtures young talent and plays a significant social role in north Dublin and beyond. It has also enhanced Ireland's reputation on the international stage. It is now faced with closure because of difficulties in navigating its way through the funding hoops of Departments and State agencies. It would be helpful, therefore, if the Minister agreed to meet it.

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