Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is mór an onóir dom é an deis seo a fháil inniu chun Meastacháin mo Roinne do 2019 a phlé. I welcome this opportunity to outline to the Dáil the principal features of the 2019 Estimates for my Department. Our culture, heritage and language distinguish as people. They play a hugely positive role in our lives enhancing our physical and mental well-being and nourishing our national psyche. The Government recognises the importance of culture, heritage and the Irish language. That is why the Taoiseach has put on record a public commitment to double the spend on arts and culture by 2025.

Budget 2019 was an important milestone on this journey. The funding package of €339 million for 2019 for developing culture, heritage and the Irish language is an increase of €36 million, or 12%, on that of last year. Earlier this year, the Government launched Project Ireland 2040 to ensure delivery of significantly improved social, economic and cultural infrastructure. My Department's part in this is the €1.2 billion plan for investing in our culture, language and heritage. The level of investment proposed under this plan will transform our cultural, heritage and language infrastructure across the country. Next year, we will see a very significant increase in capital spending by my Department, which will rise by €21 million to €75 million. This will allow for the very important planning and early-stage implementation phases of a number of Project Ireland 2040 culture, heritage and language projects.

In broad terms, the total allocation for 2019 of €339 million is broken down along the following lines. There is almost €190 million for culture, which is an increase of 13.5%; over €54 million for the conservation and protection of Ireland's built and natural heritage, which is an increase of 15%; over €54 million for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the islands; and €40.4 million for North-South co-operation, including support for two North-South implementation bodies, namely, Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga.

The funding package I have secured for my Department for 2019 allows for increases across each of the hugely important programme areas. I will discuss these in more detail. Almost €190 million, including almost €42 million in respect of capital, has been allocated to culture. This significantly increased capital allocation will allow for the planning and early stage implementation of works at a number of our national cultural institutions under my Department's ten-year capital plan as part of Project Ireland 2040. The transformation and renewal of our national cultural institutions is already under way. I note that work has commenced on the National Library's refurbishment and the National Archives will begin moving files off-site shortly in advance of starting its redevelopment work. Many other cultural institutions are at an advanced stage with their proposals, including the National Concert Hall, the Abbey Theatre and the National Museum of Ireland. Our capital investment programme under the national development plan envisages expenditure of €460 million over the decade of the plan. In addition to this, in 2019 our national cultural institutions collectively will receive an increase of more than €2 million in current funding. We also will be providing the funding for the essential preparatory work for Galway 2020. This increase in funding also provides for increases to key institutions and agencies that deliver arts, creativity and culture across the country and to further develop the core programme areas to increase citizen engagement with creativity. The Arts Council, for example, will receive an additional €6.8 million in 2019 to enhance its support for artists and arts organisations. This allocation is more than double the 2018 increase and brings Government support for this very important body to €75 million. The Government and I welcome the very positive reaction of the Irish arts community to this news. The allocation to Fís Éireann will increase to over €20 million and will greatly assist in the implementation of the audiovisual action plan and further our ambition to enable Ireland to become a global hub for the production of film, TV drama and animation and double employment in the sector. I also acknowledge the announcement by the Minister for Finance with regard to the extension of section 481 by four years to December 2024. The Minister will also introduce a new short-term tax incentive for productions based in certain regions. Both measures will support jobs, investment and growth in this hugely important sector.

2018 has been a hugely significant year for Creative Ireland. We have seen wonderful events like Cruinniú na nÓg that we want to expand. We are committing an €1.5 million to Creative Ireland to allow it to expand further and faster. This additional allocation will enable the expansion of Creativity in the Community programmes, work on creativity with primary and secondary schools and, hopefully, an even bigger Cruinniú na nÓg. We are also delivering in terms of Global Ireland 2025. We are delivering in terms of Culture Ireland because we want to make sure that we are competitive on the international stage. We have incredible events like the Venice Biennale and the GB18 programme. I will give €100,000 to Culture Ireland for 2019. This is in addition to the extra €500,000 that was allocated to Culture Ireland last year. Next year will be another milestone year and I am providing an additional €250,000 for commemorations.

With regard to heritage, there will be a capital investment of €285 million in sustaining and protecting our landscapes, monuments, buildings and wildlife over the coming decade. This will translate into total funding over €54 million for my heritage programme, €39 million in current expenditure and €15.6 million in capital funding. There are various different allocations in terms of the Irish Heritage Trust, an interpretative portal for the national monuments, traditional buildings skills and the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage in Dún Laoghaire. Additional capital funding will allow for more than 520 additional built heritage restoration projects next year.

The Gaeltacht, the Irish language and the islands were given a total of €54.3 million. In addition to funding for Foras na Gaeilge, an additional €3 million in capital funding and €2 million in current funding was provided. With regard to North-South co-operation, there is provision of €40.4 million to Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency. In conclusion, the proposals I have outlined are really significant for my Department and have been widely received in a positive way. I look forward to rolling out our ambitious plans.

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