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

I acknowledge the Deputy's comments about Professor Coolahan, who accepted the position of chair of the implementation group on condition that this initiative would be taken very seriously and not just another publication. He wants the recommendations in the charter to be implemented and I am very pleased with the outcomes to date. The web portal to be set up will be very important, and according to Professor Coolahan this could be something of major international significance. I acknowledge the work of the implementation group for the charter on arts in education, as well as the work of the Minister for Education and Skills, who has appointed Dr. Brigid Sweeney, who has a background in arts and education, to co-ordinate the response in his Department. The Minister, Deputy Quinn, is very enthusiastic about this aspect.

There is a very strong case to be made for promoting arts in education in the broader community from the perspective of developing more creative thinkers among young people and helping them to become better at problem solving. There is a direct connection between the arts and these issues.

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