Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport her strategy for the development of the Arts over the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36951/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome Deputy Deenihan to this portfolio. He will bring added interest and vigour to it.

My policy on the arts, culture and film sectors reflects Government policy in this area as set out in the programme for Government. This policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase the profile of, access to, and participation in, culture and the arts, make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, maximise the potential for cultural tourism and grow the film and audiovisual production sector.

The Government is keenly aware of the economic potential of the arts and creative industries and their role in supporting enterprise and innovation in the economy as a whole, as highlighted at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh. It also is determined to use Ireland's unique cultural assets as a way of distinguishing it from other tourism destinations and thereby attracting an increasing number of cultural tourists in the years ahead.

At the same time, while our arts, culture and heritage are important contributors to sustainable economic recovery, I appreciate that their contribution should never be measured in financial terms alone. Rather, they should be appreciated also for the social, cultural and educative benefits that they bring to communities large and small throughout the country.

Government policy on the arts has been and will continue to be enabled and implemented through the agencies and institutions within my Department, namely, the Arts Council, the Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland, as well as the cultural institutions within my Department's remit.

Recently, as part of the preparation of my Department's statement of strategy for the period 2010-14, I have consulted the agencies under my Department's aegis, as well a number of interested parties in the arts and culture areas. I will consider the suggestions put forward in this consultation when finalising this strategy, which will include a clear description of my Department's strategic priorities for the period 2011-13, reinforced by key objectives and timelines.

The arts, cultural and creative sector is constantly in a state of renewal and evolution. The challenge in the current economic environment is to work smarter within the limited public financial resources available to build on our strengths and to seize new opportunities. For example, one of the opportunities discussed at the cultural forum on the new statement of strategy was that presented by developments in the area of information and communications technology. Members will be aware that digitisation of the 1901 and 1911 census records has opened access to our heritage to an exponentially bigger audience than the paper records ever could have reached. At the same time, it has created a heightened interest in Ireland around the world that no doubt will help to attract here increasing numbers of so-called roots tourists n the years ahead.

Similarly, the Irish Film Board highlighted the opportunities for the Irish film industry of the increasing migration to Internet-based viewing and marketing of audiovisual content. Small Irish productions will never be able to compete with the huge marketing spend of Hollywood studios but can get into people's homes through platforms such as iTunes and can win audiences through word of mouth on Facebook and Twitter.

My overall goal, as reflected in the forthcoming statement of strategy for the Department, will be to help the sector as a whole to seize on such opportunities and to come through the current challenges in position to achieve greater success in the years ahead.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply and assure her that I will give her all possible co-operation in my new role. I am sure we can work together in the interests of the arts, tourism and sport. As part of her strategy, I encourage the Minister to protect the progress that has been made over the past 20 years. In addition, the Minister's new strategy should encourage new writing, new writers and new artists and it will be important to bring the arts out to venues throughout the country. These policies should be the pillars of the new strategy. However, will this be possible when one considers that just two years ago, arts funding was €83 million whereas in last year's budget, it was pared down to €67 million. Both the Arts Council and arts organisations nationwide have pared back their expenditure as much as they can and a further reduction this year would mean the loss of important personnel and the necessity to discontinue programmes they have built up over the years. Consequently, in view of the new departmental strategy, can the Minister assure Members that funding will not be cut in this year's budget?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is aware that it is not possible at this stage to give any commitments regarding the budget. However, the Government's commitment to the arts has been proven over the years. The Arts Council is just one method by which the Government funds the arts. This also takes place through capital funding through all the access projects nationwide, which builds on the point of ensuring the arts are available to all sectors and in all geographic parts of the country. Moreover, substantial capital funding is available for the next few years to build on that. The funding to which the Deputy referred also does not include funding for the national cultural institutions and nor does it include funding for the Irish Film Board. Significant investment is being made in the arts and naturally, the Government will aim to ensure that it protects as much of it as possible. However, given the financial circumstances, it is not possible to provide a blanket guaranteed to any one sector.

I should point out that the Arts Council funding of €68.7 million is still €21 million more than was the case in 2002 and that a significant leap took place during those years. However, of added value in making an argument to the Department of Finance at budget time is that the arts now are no longer perceived as being an extra in society but as being highly integrated and as contributing to the country's economic value.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I encourage the Minister to include in the departmental strategy one or two iconic or landmark projects. Given that Dublin now has been designated as a UNESCO city of literature, I strongly encourage her to seriously consider establishing a writers' museum or centre in Dublin that would both celebrate the achievements of Ireland's past writers, including its Nobel laureates, and simultaneously would encourage contemporary writers.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I hope that throughout the country and through the education system, young people can be encouraged to write and to be creative, particularly given our history of storytelling. This history is no longer simply being linked to the cultural tradition. For example, if one takes the old Irish tradition of storytelling and links it to modern technology, one suddenly has an Oscar-winning animation industry. Such links also can be made and even on Culture Night, the Dublin Writers' Centre was open to allow people to participate in a never-ending story to which I added my own small paragraph. Various groups are engaged in activities nationwide, including a writers' museum and a writers' centre. However, I accept the point the Deputy is making is to try to encourage the literary aspect and having the UNESCO city of literature designation, to which Members will return later, is one way to build on that.