Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for arts, Deputy O'Donovan. Having worked with the Deputy on the tourism and arts committee for five years during the previous Dáil term, I know how important this issue is and what a champion Deputy Byrne is for the arts and cultural sector. What he has raised today is significant and recognises the efforts we all need to take within Government to champion the arts and those who work within it but also to implement new initiatives, such as what the Deputy has presented in other jurisdictions. We all have to make a concerted effort to make that happen.

Research has confirmed the benefits of early arts and cultural participation for children, establishing lifelong patterns of engagement. The Department supports various institutions and initiatives to ensure access to arts and culture for young people nationwide, often at little or no cost.

The Arts Council has collaborated with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on an arts in early learning care and school-age childcare pilot. That is overseen by a steering committee with representatives from multiple Departments and organisations. The Arts Council has supported early years arts for over a decade, commissioning significant research and fostering practitioner development through the various agencies and organisations. The National Library of Ireland offers free tours of the W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney exhibitions. It also partners with various educational institutions to offer internship and academic and professional development.

The Chester Beatty runs creative workshops for teens and supports the youth advisory groups, with collaboration again from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The National Gallery of Ireland targets young people, aged 16 to 25, as a key audience with dedicated programmes supported by the Apollo Foundation. The gallery's youth panel curates events and festivals engaging thousands of young people annually.

Creative Ireland's youth plan 2023 to 2027 aims to embed creativity in young lives through cross-government partnerships with a budget of over €10 million for 2025. The Cruinniú na nÓg annual day of creativity involves over 1,000 events across Ireland. The creative youth nurture fund supports various projects, enhancing access to arts and culture. Post-primary schools and Youthreach centres participate in creative youth programmes, such as creative schools and creative clusters, promoting arts and education. These initiatives demonstrate the Government's commitment to fostering the arts and cultural participation among young people.

The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is very conscious that the access provided under official programmes is only part of a wider sphere of activities in the arts. The Department intends to explore the contribution a youth culture card could make to encourage interest. The Minister has stated that he will welcome the views of the Deputy. Once the committee has been established, we will certainly look to further the understanding of the opportunities a youth culture card might present and it is in the programme for Government.

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