Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the key budget measures I am introducing in 2018. I am pleased to announce a further package of over €300 million in 2018 to develop our cultural and creative heritage. I have also secured an additional €90 million in capital funding between 2018 and 2021. This increases my Department's capital funding by almost 50% over that period, which will allow for multi-annual planning for the first time. This points to the Government's clear commitment to incrementally increasing arts and culture funding over the coming years. It also acknowledges the enormous contribution that arts, culture and creativity make to our nation's fabric, identity and well-being. In 2018, my Department's budget will increase by €13 million, comprising €9 million in current expenditure and €4 million in capital expenditure. This includes an €8.5 million boost in funding for arts and culture to accelerate the Creative Ireland programme, which is designed to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation. Creative Ireland is a five-year all-of-Government programme aligned with Culture 2025 - Éire Ildánach, and framed within A Programme for a Partnership Government. The year 2017 has one of extraordinary discovery as the programme engaged with communities the length and breadth of the country. I am delighted to be in a position to build on the positive engagement of the last year through allocating resources to arts, culture and creativity in budget 2018.

Of course, our heritage, language, islands and waterways are also vividly reflected in our cultural output. They mark our sense of identity as strongly as our literature, music, dance, theatre and art. In addition to their cultural merits, however, these areas make a significant contribution to supporting economic activity and employment across the country.

This is the case both directly and indirectly though cultural and heritage tourism. The funding package I have secured for 2018 allows for increases across all programme areas. In broad terms, the 2018 allocation to my Department includes over €167 million for culture to accelerate the Creative Ireland programme; over €47 million for the conservation and protection of Ireland's built and natural heritage; over €48.5 million for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and islands; and almost €40 million for North-South co-operation projects, including support for Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga.

It is an exciting moment for arts, culture and creativity from the opening of landmark exhibitions in our national cultural institutions to innovative community arts projects around the country. The Creative Ireland programme is already yielding positive results in both rural and urban communities with more and more people engaging with creativity than ever before. I am determined to build on this momentum in the coming year by prioritising funding increases to key institutions, agencies and initiatives which deliver arts and culture. The €170 million culture budget for 2018 is targeted at increasing citizen engagement and creativity through the five pillars of the Creative Ireland programme. The Arts Council will receive an additional €3 million to enhance its support to artists and art organisations of all sizes. This represents a 5% increase to its annual budget, bringing it to €68 million, a 20% boost in funding since 2014.

I listened with some interest to the Fianna Fáil spokesperson earlier. I remind Fianna Fáil that when it was in government, it decreased the Arts Council budget by €18 million between 2008 and 2011. In 2011, it left an unmerciful economic mess behind it for which the people paid dearly and others had to clean up. That should be contrasted with what I have done since I was appointed Minister in 2014. I have increased the Arts Council budget by 20%, over €11 million. Action speaks louder than words.

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