Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The previous Government had the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and that was accepted, in so far as that was important. When I came into the Chamber on the day the Government was appointed, I read out that because of all the pressure before the elections about rural affairs and regional affairs, that this should be reflected at Cabinet level and that this Department was one where that would be suitable. Given that I read it out in that order, people suddenly assumed that the arts were gone, sunk without a trace. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Department is to be the Department of Arts, Heritage and Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Development. Consequently, those who have been writing to me, those who have been sending me texts and those who have been decrying the demise of the arts in Ireland at every opportunity should look again at the fact there now is more money in this Department, as well as more allocated to it, than for many years. When I listen to all the learned people of creativity and imaginative vision speaking abroad about the demise of the arts in Ireland, I respectfully disagree. This Department has a senior Cabinet Minister and a dedicated Cabinet sub-committee. It has no Minister of State because of its importance and has more allocated to it than previously.

Moreover, why would it not be important that regardless of whether one goes to Tory Island, Cill Rialaig, Dooagh down in Achill or any place else, that the capacity for people to be able to expound on their creativity and their imagination in the arts should be as prevalent as in any city centre or any major urban area? The issue of rural development and regional development might be lost on some of those who espouse the vision about art because the young people are now displaying their artistic qualities in the schools and in the homes. It might not be all on sketches or crayons or paints; it could be in many other artistic forms. However, the Government must develop that regionally, locally and nationally and that is why more money has gone in here than previously.

In fact, the Government has increased funding for the Arts Council year on year since 2014, when the economy began to improve, to €60 million now.

Deputy Martin's question is valid. The programme for Government contains an important commitment to increase funding for the arts progressively with specific reference to the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board. I have had the privilege of meeting some of the global leaders in the film sector. Many of them say that Ireland has an enormous capacity and potential in this area. That is why the Government changed the rules in respect of the taxation system, the school of graphic design, and the capacity to produce major movies in studio, given that technology has changed greatly from what it was in the past.

The outgoing Government commenced a €30 million plus investment in the National Gallery a number of years ago. One can see that the cranes have come and gone. They have had to pile the entire foundations underneath and it will be a marvellous job when it is finished. There was a further €10 million investment for the National Library in Kildare Street, which was badly needed. In addition, there was a €9 million investment for arts and cultural centres, to run over the next three years, which is focused on increasing the number of arts and cultural centres.

It is heartening and encouraging to work with local authority arts officers and see artistic centres throughout the country. The scale of what they put on there locally, regionally and nationally is first class and to be much admired. That scheme will target improvement of existing facilities.

As Deputies know, a serious investment of €32 million was made this year in the Military Archives, the development of the GPO interpretative centre, Kilmainham courthouse and the tenement buildings in the context of the comprehensive 1916 commemorations. Much of that was related to the arts and artistic endeavour, so I do not accept the argument that the arts are being done down by the Government or that we have shown no interest in their potential and quality.

A key theme of the centenary programme is re-imagining, which is a rallying call to re-imagine Ireland's future over the next 100 years. That kind of conversation can be driven by our heritage and culture. In tandem, the Government will prioritise the publication of Culture 2025, which is this country's first ever national cultural policy.

On the second last occasion I was in New York, I visited an arts centre for a fund-raising event. Let me assure those in the artistic community, both here and the many abroad with Irish connections, that this Government is fully committed to the arts. In so far as we can, we will continue to fund that kind of imaginative vision that so many people have.

A health question was mentioned and the new Minister has already set out a ten-year vision for the health service, for which he has obtained agreement from the House. I hope that strategy will take significant elements of the raw politics out of this because everybody is interested in people having a proper health service as close to them as possible. The initial advance of getting valid views from everybody about how this can operate is an important element of a national response to a health situation which has always been in crisis at one time or another. We now face demographic problems with an ageing population and chronic illnesses. People are living longer because of newer and better treatments. Given the rising population of 4.7 million, there is therefore an increased cost.

The Minister for Health will continue to roll out primary care centres, while mental health issues and other elements are also important. Deputy Martin referred to other issues. Additional Exchequer funding of almost €817 million was made available to support health and social care services in 2016. That included an extra €100 million to maintain existing services and €99 million for new services which cover therapy services for young people. It includes speech and language therapy which is an issue that people have constantly raised, as well as the Creating a Healthy Ireland programme. It also concerns building capacity for our emergency and acute services, improving waiting times for hospital procedures, reforming the HSE into a more efficient, transparent health service for patients and staff, and developing a new funding model for health services.

Deputy Martin asked if the health system will stay within its budget for 2016, which is a valid question. I hope so. There is a far greater emphasis now on accountability, transparency and effective management from senior HSE personnel, particularly those working in acute hospitals where overruns have been a constant issue.

In addition to providing speech and language therapy services for young people, further development of mental health services will be undertaken. Primary care, including provision of free GP care for six to 11 year olds, will also be provided along with the development of maternity services, ambulances and hospital projects. Deputy Martin is aware of the development of the new national children's hospital, as well as efforts to resolve the dispute in respect of the National Maternity Hospital, along with an extensive capital programme for better facilities in many hospitals throughout the country. These are all important matters.

Deputy Martin mentioned the Economic Management Council or EMC. Just over five years ago when the previous Government was elected, the economic situation was catastrophic. One of the things we felt strongly about, which was no reflection on Deputy Martin-----

See this speech in context