Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the finding of the recent NESF report, The Arts, Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion, which showed there are major differences in levels of participation in the arts, reflecting inequalities in society in terms of education, class, income and age; the action his Department or the agencies under his direct responsibility will take to implement the findings of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12114/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I have noted the recommendations made in the National Economic and Social Forum, NESF, report No. 35, The Arts, Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion, and have asked my officials to take steps in the first instance to put in place the institutional arrangements to implement those recommendations. The proposed strategy committee with an independent chairperson will have the role of delivering on this implementation. On carrying out appropriate consultations, I will announce the composition of that committee.

The finalisation of the national development plan earlier this year heralded the single largest capital allocation to the arts and culture sector in the history of the State. A total of €904 million in funding in the culture sub-programme has been allocated to projects and institutions under the aegis of my Department. The objectives set out in the sub-programme are entirely consistent with delivering on many of the recommendations of the NESF report.

Until recently, other priority demands on resources in a growing economy, and the resultant pressure on the State's finances, meant that funding allocated to arts and culture, while on a steady upward curve, did not provide the Government with the wherewithal to undertake major investment in the sector. It was not until well into the 1990s that it was possible to commit substantial investment to the national cultural institutions and the millennium wing at the National Gallery was the first landmark project to be realised. The new national development plan provides a platform for greatly increased investment in such institutions, which will ensure the State will have both national cultural institutions of international repute and a network of world class regional facilities.

The NDP includes funding for the development of a new national theatre and a new National Concert Hall on a public private partnership basis. Considerable progress has been made on these projects which, when completed, will provide Ireland with state-of-the-art facilities for the benefit of its people and for its enhancement as a tourist destination.

It also includes funding for major capital developments at the other national cultural institutions. The following key projects will be delivered over the lifetime of the plan: the major extension of the National Library, delivery of a number of projects at the National Gallery in line with the gallery's development control plan and a major programme of works at the National Museum at Collins Barracks involving the development of the new centre block exhibition galleries. A building will also be provided to house the Asgard at Collins Barracks, where it will be conserved and proposals to locate a sports museum at Collins Barracks are under consideration. Such projects represent an ambitious agenda for the next phase in the development of the major national resource that Collins Barracks represents.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Funding is also included for the enhancement of facilities and the provision of additional exhibition space at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, IMMA, investment in upgrading the Crawford Gallery in Cork, which has been designated as a national cultural institution, further enhancement of the Chester Beatty Library, shared off-site storage facilities for the national cultural institutions and the provision of a new headquarters for the National Archives as a public private partnership project.

The Government's policy on universal access to arts and cultural facilities will be furthered through the exploitation of technological developments that will enable it to begin a major digitisation programme for the collections in our national collecting institutions. Digitisation will provide access to the national collections nationwide and from abroad. It is an essential part of broadening access to elements of the national collections and will form the nucleus of public education in arts. For example, it will enable the State to put on-line the collection of the National Library in every school in the country by exploiting the Government's recent investment to bring high-speed broadband to all 4,200 schools nationwide. The digitisation programme will also take account of the North-South dimension. My Department will lead this initiative and will act in partnership with the cultural institutions and the private technology sector to realise this ambition.

The culture sub-programme will also take account of the North-South dimension. There is close collaboration between the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Arts Council and I look forward to expanding the opportunities for even closer collaboration that should result from resumed political development. The co-operation that is already in place for North-South tourism provides a robust model for what can be achieved.

Funding is included for an enhanced arts and cultural capital enhancement support scheme, ACCESS, programme for grant aid towards the development of arts and culture infrastructure nationwide. A new round of ACCESS will run from 2007 to 2009 and applications for funding under this round have been evaluated by an independent selection committee and I will make an announcement on grant awards shortly. The primary focus of the scheme will be the refurbishment and enhancement of existing arts and culture facilities. The ACCESS programme is a key element of the Government's regional arts strategy.

Funding has also been allocated for the completion of major development projects at the Gate, the Gaiety, Smock Alley and Wexford theatres and for structural work on the Hunt Museum, Limerick. I am glad to report that the Gaiety and Wexford projects are proceeding apace and are on schedule.

I have served as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism since June 2002. This Government's record in arts, sport and tourism is one of which it can be justifiably proud and I was delighted to garner such significant and unprecedented funding for all three areas in successive Estimates campaigns and in the NDP. In this fast-paced and vibrant economy, it is important to remember that economic indicators alone cannot measure a strong and healthy society. The well-being of Irish society is also dependent on the vitality of its communities. I believe strongly that the arts have a critical role to play in enlivening, invigorating and distinguishing our society, locally, nationally and internationally, and that Ireland's future economic, social and cultural success requires that appropriate priority be given to the nation's creative and artistic constituents.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I am glad the Minister has given a commitment in the House that he will establish a steering committee or a strategy committee to implement the recommendations of this report. I was delighted to serve on the committee that produced it and am grateful that a number of recommendations I made have been included.

The reason I welcomed the commitment made today by the Minister is that although the Arts Council and the Combat Poverty Agency produced a similar report with many of the same recommendations in the 1990s, they were not implemented. Had they been implemented then, we would not be facing the same problems regarding cultural inclusion and social cohesion that affect our society today. Does the Minister accept that many people are deprived of enjoying the arts to the extent they should because of their class, educational or socio-economic backgrounds or ethnic origins?

Although the Minister has little time remaining to him, will he give a commitment that the Government will pursue a form of spatial strategy regarding the provision of facilities nationwide in order that communities will have access to arts centres and to quality performances? One barrier that emerged strongly in this report concerned the issue of geographical location. Those who live in remote locations have no opportunity to see professional performances because Dublin and the other major centres are simply too distant from them. There must be a commitment to some spatial distribution of arts centres nationwide in order that touring parties can visit such locations to provide quality performances, as can local groups. Moreover, the Arts Council requires a considerable amount of increased funding to enable it to provide funding for more professional touring groups to tour, thus ensuring that people can have access to quality performances. The Minister should respond to these questions.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I extend my thanks to the representatives of all strands of the NESF, that is, the Oireachtas Members, namely, Deputies Deenihan and McManus and Senator Mooney, together with the social partners, Departments and agencies, for their tremendous work in compiling this report. It goes without saying that people have not had equality of access to the arts in Ireland since the foundation of the State. I would go so far as to suggest that sponsorship of the arts is a relatively modern phenomenon and that this may be the first Irish generation with the monetary capacity to engage in meaningful sponsorship of the arts. I strongly believe the arts have a critical role to play in enlivening, invigorating and distinguishing our society, locally, nationally and internationally, and that Ireland's future economic social and cultural success requires that appropriate priority be given to the nation's creative and artistic constituents.

In that respect, I believe the Government has made considerable progress due to increased funding for the arts and that programmes such as ACCESS I have been extremely successful. I recently announced the establishment of ACCESS II and applications are being considered at present. This will permit the continued creation of facilities for the arts nationwide in order that people may give expression to their creative talents.

Digitisation is extremely important and I am pleased the national development plan provides for it as I campaigned for it long and hard. For example, we will be able to make available the treasures in the National Library to every school and pupil in Ireland, thus enabling them to engage with the treasures held in the National Library. Progressive digitisation will enable us to spread the arts across the nation in order that people will be able to participate irrespective of their socio-economic background, which is important.

Continued investment by local authorities in tandem with the Arts Council in local areas is of immense importance. While I do not for a moment pretend that all has been resolved in respect of participation, enormous ground has been made in a relatively short time and I do not doubt that the seeds sown will bear further fruit in years to come.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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We will move to Question No. 62.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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May I ask a short question?

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Deputy may ask a brief question.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Because the report is so important I wish to ask the Minister whether particular emphasis will be placed on access for young people to the arts when the Department establishes the strategy committee, which I hope will be within the next couple of weeks. The report identifies barriers against young people fully participating in the arts and exploiting or capitalising on their latent talent. The new Irish, particularly the African-Irish, have particular expertise in music and dance. Will the Minister ensure particular attention is paid to them and that particular recommendations are made and actions taken to include these groups in any future strategy?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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That will be done. The implementation group will be established at the earliest possible date after consultations have taken place. I am conscious of the need to involve young people, which is why we established the arts and education committee last year. This committee had the task of formulating a policy to enable us to ensure the education sector became more involved as regards the involvement of children in the arts. The report to be furnished to me in the not too distant future will give expression to this.