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

As the Deputy will be aware, a Government decision of 1997 approved the inclusion in the budgets for all Exchequer-funded capital construction projects of up 1% as funding for an art project, subject to an overall cap of €64,000. The current guidelines on the per cent for art scheme were drawn up in 2004 to set out how project managers are to operate the scheme and to provide a common national approach to its implementation. My Department has responsibility for the promotion of the per cent for art scheme but does not provide funding or a budget for it.

The scheme does not operate on the basis of there being a specific public art fund from which moneys are drawn down to undertake or to commission works of an artistic nature. Rather, under the terms of the scheme, such works are factored into and funded from the budgets of the capital projects in question by the relevant Department or public body undertaking the project. It is a matter for each project promoter or commissioning body to maintain details of such expenditure.

When the per cent for art scheme was launched it was accompanied by guidelines to assist with its implementation. It is now well-known and embedded in all public infrastructure works. The public has become familiar with the works of art on our roads, but there are also art works resulting from the scheme in place in schools, hospitals and arts and culture buildings. Public art is not confined to sculptures; it has also resulted in performances, new writings and compositions. There is no doubt that the visual impact of this scheme has been overwhelmingly positive. I consider that the scheme should continue.

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