Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister on her reappointment to the ever-increasing portfolio, as we can see from the recent announcement. While I congratulate her, I am disappointed at what most of the arts community and I see as the demotion of the arts within the Department. While I appreciate the priorities the Minister outlined, the former Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has been increased to include regional development and rural affairs and encompasses responsibility for the roll-out of broadband and the development of the An Post network. We fully understand the need for a dedicated Department for regional development and rural affairs. My colleague, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, was Minister for just that from 2002 to 2010. However, during that time a separate Department for the arts had a lead portfolio. I am very fearful, like most of the nation, that the arts may be left behind and forgotten about in the Minister's miscellaneous responsibilities. What reassurances can she give on this?

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