Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I wonder whether the African saying the lion roared but gave birth to a mouse might apply to the Government's great plans for Creative Ireland. When the arts were debated here, we heard noble words and fine aspirations from Government speakers who trumpeted their commitment to the arts. What is actually happening? What has actually been discussed in delivering on Creative Ireland? It is difficult to see what might be delivered with the miserable €5 million dedicated to this initiative. What is actually happening with the commitment to community arts? We were told that every child would have an opportunity to express himself or herself creatively. What exactly is happening with the pilot scheme for self-employed artists in receipt of jobseeker's allowance? It has been talked about, but there is no sign of anything being rolled out. Artists face difficulties when they are expected to show that they have been looking for work, but the arts do not work like that. The Government recognised that some scheme was needed. Ministers spoke about establishing a pilot scheme to accommodate the needs of artists, but there is no sign of such a scheme. In the light of its verbal and rhetorical commitment to the arts, has the Government started to consider whether it will provide for a serious increase in the allocation for the arts in the forthcoming budget? I remind the House that this country is at the bottom of the league table for GDP expenditure on the arts. Has the Government discussed this? Are there plans to increase the allocation for the arts significantly in the forthcoming budget?

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