Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The sports capital programme has been incredibly successful at providing support for sport within our communities. I welcome the Government's continued commitment but we have not placed the same level of investment in arts and cultural facilities in our organisations. I appreciate the point about stream E but, as the Minister pointed out, the maximum grant available is €50,000. In a capital programme, that is not a huge sum. I am thinking of a number of places in my constituency, including Gorey Little Theatre, KMH in Kilmuckridge, St. Brigid's Hall in Carnew and Tinahely's Courthouse Arts Centre. Arklow, for instance, does not have a dedicated arts centre. That sum will not go very far towards that. In the same way as we have a sports capital fund that works successfully, we should introduce an arts capital fund. It is a clear commitment in the programme. I know the Minister is supportive of it but we need to roll it out as quickly as possible.

See this speech in context