Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister refers to funding from this area and that area, but she must admit that we compare poorly with international standards. Sadly, the arts are not seen in Ireland as businesses in their own right.

Often, the State treats music as a hobby, something that people do before they get jobs. The lack of support is felt at individual level, with many people forced onto the dole or into JobBridge or Gateway. The impression given is that people who are trying to start in music should be playing gigs for free to get exposure.

The lack of support is also felt at community level by local organisations that support music in the regions and rely heavily on the Arts Council for their survival. For example, the Music in Kilkenny group, an organisation that holds 20 concerts throughout the year in the south east and is regarded as one of Ireland's most active and successful classical music promoters, found out last week that its annual grant of €11,000 was being cut completely. Music for Wexford, a similar body, endured a cut recently. This not only affects organisations and deprives local areas of cultural events but also hits artists, who lose out on performance opportunities.

Many sectors get tax exemptions and various supports that are in a different league than what the music industry gets. Despite the fact we are a small island with a small population, music is powerful in Ireland.

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