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

I thank the Deputy. He mentioned schools. I note that the creative schools programme is one of the key deliverables of the creative youth plan, which is an initiative of the Creative Ireland programme. It is led by the Arts Council of Ireland in collaboration with and funded by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. Following an open application process, 150 schools were selected for the pilot in the school year running from 2018 to this year. These schools have approximately 38,000 pupils. There are a diverse range of school types involved in rural and urban parts of the country. Primary, post-primary, DEIS and special schools and Youthreach centres are included. A total of four schools in Kildare are participating in the pilot scheme, namely, Scoil an Linbh Íosa in Ballycane in Naas, Scoil Mhichil Naofa in Athy, Scoil Mhuire in Ballymany in Newbridge and Ursaille Naofa in Naas. Schools participating in the pilot are working with artists, creative practitioners and educators to develop their own unique programme of arts and creative work, connecting them to the full range of local and regional cultural resources and opportunities. Concerning Ireland in general, the cultural ambassadors will go some way towards expanding our global footprint.

See this speech in context