Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport his plans to support the arts at community level. [6337/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Our arts, culture and heritage are rooted in the community. That is what makes them so unique and special. A strategy for the arts that does not start from the community is destined to fail. Our arts and cultural activities animate and enliven villages, towns and cities throughout the State, day and night. They draw people out to participate, attend and enjoy. They are the nucleus of a community and often the main economic driver while providing social well-being. Our arts, culture and heritage define us as a society, delineate us as a people and give us our self-worth and value system. It is through their medium that our international reputation will be restored.

The programme for Government commits us to a number of actions in the arts and culture area. We are committed to making strategic policy formulation the primary function of the Department. We will encourage the Arts Council to continue to dedicate resources to touring. Our programme for Government will encourage greater co-operation among local authorities to promote the arts and develop cultural tourism. In this context, since taking office I have begun an engagement with local authority and community arts leaders in Kerry to develop a pilot template integrated strategy for arts, culture and the creative industries at local level. This will lead to co-ordinated delivery of an enhanced and inclusive arts and culture experience for the public at large, and will be used as a template for local authorities throughout the State.

I will meet all the arts officers over the coming weeks.

The arts are important on many levels. Involvement in the arts, particularly at community level, encourages self-esteem; is life and health enhancing, both physically and mentally; provides connections for young and old alike; and allows us to explore and develop. From my own experience, and in observing the activities in this sector, the contributions made by the arts are self-evident in the context of tourism, their economic benefits and the employment they generate. Numerous reports from arts centres, local theatre groups, musical societies, book clubs, cultural festivals, chamber choirs and school orchestras support these observations; the list is endless.

The agencies supported by my Department are aware of the influences of the arts at community level and of their value, socially and economically. The Arts Council is the State agency primarily charged with the promotion and funding of the arts at all levels throughout the country. Under the Arts Act 2003, the general functions of the council include the following: to stimulate public interest in the arts; to promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts; and to assist in improving standards in the arts. The council is a statutorily independent body, funded by my Department and independent in its day-to-day operations, including in regard to its funding decisions. The council has been allocated €65.167 million in current and capital funds for 2011 to support its clients, many of whom operate at community level supporting local initiatives.

It is my intention to support the council in so far as financial and other resources permit to enable it to continue its vital work and to provide ongoing support and encouragement to the arts in its various forms at local and national level. My Department takes a direct role the provision of grant aid for arts and culture infrastructure and it has allocated almost €200 million in funding for the capital development of facilities around the country in recent years. In 2011, almost €8 million will be spent on our cultural capital infrastructure.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Just to put the record straight, my husband might be a Kerry supporter but I am a Cork supporter.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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He has a great deal of goodwill towards Kerry.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Spending on arts and culture is about more than funding certain areas of the sector that are perceived as only being for the elite. It is about enhancing the quality of life for all. Community arts, in particular, promote development, social inclusion and community cohesion. There is an intrinsic value to arts and culture as well as significant scope to enhance the economy and to drive local economic regeneration and the tourism sector. The Minister has a particular interest in the arts. Does he agree it is important to encourage and nurture the wealth of imaginative and artistic talent in our community? Does he also agree that not only will the local community benefit, but also the country, making it more attractive as a location for arts tourism and that, therefore, more funding is needed?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I agree with all the sentiments she expressed. As a rural Deputy, I am conscious that Arts Council and Government funding must be distributed throughout the country because social and cultural inclusion will not be achieved unless the spend is disbursed nationwide and the necessary facilities are in place in order that people can see drama, visit painting exhibitions and experience live and visual arts on a regular basis, for example, to have the opportunity to go to the cinema. There are people in parts of the country who are starved and deprived of those experiences. My new portfolio of arts, heritage and the Gaeltacht will be focused and I will be able to give all my time to the arts. While I would like to be involved in sport and tourism, I will devote all my time to the arts and heritage. Deputy McGinley will look after the Gaeltacht, in which I also have an interest.

I agree with the Deputy's comments and I would like my ministry to be as inclusive as possible. I will listen to people such as the Deputy who have a commitment to the arts to examine ways we can ensure people at all levels have an opportunity to enjoy the arts and to ensure their creativity is challenged. Depressed economic times bring out the creativity in people and they are encouraged to think outside the box. The country is challenged and there is a great opportunity now for the creative instincts in people to be encouraged. I am optimistic regarding the possibilities available in writing, painting and so on.

I began the process in Kerry on the Monday following my appointment. The Department has a wonderful building in Killarney, which has been open for three years, and I am the first Minister to spend time there. That is because of geographical reasons, as it is only half an hour from my home. However, I brought in all those involved in the arts in County Kerry and we are developing a strategy, which can be applied to every county.

I will meet all the arts officers over the next few weeks in order that I can work closely with them and I will encourage county managers to provide funding from their budgets. I will match that funding as best I can and the county that gives most to the arts will be rewarded with Exchequer funding.