Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Niamh Smyth and wish her the best of luck in her role. I thank her for bringing this important motion before Members this evening. I also acknowledge all the creative people among us and it is great to see the Gallery so full. I am approaching this issue from the perspective of somebody who is involved in a volunteer capacity in community theatre. A discordant note is creeping in regarding the Minister's capabilities, which I find a little disturbing to say the least. This is the same Minister who, since taking up office, has fought the good battle for the arts at the Cabinet table. Members should remember the horrendous recession we have come through. Moreover, she has won every battle she has fought by finding within her the characteristics she needs at the Cabinet table to fight for the arts. I reassure Members and those present in the Gallery that they have a champion for the arts here. She has set her mind to finding money to increase the budget for the arts and it has increased since she took office in 2014. The Government is well aware there is much more to be done but in the partnership for Government agreement, a commitment has been given that there will be increased investment in the arts during the coming years. The Minister herself initiated the capital funding programme that will be opened up this year and which I welcome as a person involved in community arts. I am involved in a theatre and arts centre myself in Birr and I note additional funding will be put in place for such arts venues and regional cultural centres nationwide, which will be able to get some capital funding.

The title of the Department has been bandied about. I will read into the record the actual title, namely, "the Department of Arts, Heritage and Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Development". That is it; there is no downgrading of the arts and I am satisfied this will not be the case. The clock is against me but as a final point, the arts always has been in a Ministry with other Departments and Deputy Catherine Martin referred to this. When it was part of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, was sport prioritised over the arts because it was in there too? Was tourism prioritised? No, it was not. The relevant Minister fought the battle for the arts, for sport and for tourism in the same way as this Minister will fight the battle for the arts. I have every confidence that she will do it and reassure everybody in this regard. I also ask people to please depersonalise this issue and to focus and work together on what is important to us culturally. The arts are what we are and Members must work together to ensure they can deliver them for all the people from the cradle to the grave.

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