Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has confidence in the Arts Council's willingness and capacity to support opera here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29824/11]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for the future development of opera here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29858/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 49 together.

The Arts Council always had responsibility to promote opera, apart from a limited amount of work undertaken in my Department on the Irish National Opera project. When I assumed the role of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I examined the available information and expert advice. Based on that examination, I believed the best option was for the Arts Council to resume responsibility for all opera policy provision and implementation into the future. I communicated that decision to the chair and the director of the Arts Council last summer. The council remains at all times independent in its decision-making on the financing of opera.

In resuming this function, the council has to address a number of issues, including the financing of opera. The Deputy will recall that the significant reason for discontinuation of the Irish National Opera project was its need for a minimum annual State contribution of €4.5 million if it was to be successful. This compared with the €2.2 million available to opera in 2010. At another juncture, this project might have proceeded, but not in the current budgetary climate.

Following the full resumption of its responsibility for the entirety of the opera brief, the Arts Council decided to conduct a consultation process with key stakeholders within the opera community to inform itself on the future direction of policy. That process includes several elements, namely, publishing details on its website including documentation intended to promote discussion; convening a series of 30 meetings with stakeholders; and inviting written submissions from interested parties. I understand from the council that any plans for the future development of opera will fall to be considered in the light of this assessment. I also understand that the outcome will be provided to me by the council before year-end.

It is important to note that, over the course of 2010, there has been some confusion about where responsibility for opera resided. I want to make it absolutely clear that all responsibility for all opera, including its financing, now resides with the Arts Council. I am fully confident of the Council's ability to discharge this responsibility.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I asked the Minister if he had confidence in the Arts Council's ability in this regard, given that over the past five years the council's support of opera has dropped from €4.6 million to €2.2 million. Although the council's grant aid fell by 21% during this period the council's support to opera was cut by 52%.

The Minister and I are aware of the importance of opera in Ireland in terms of cultural tourism. For the reasons I gave, Dublin is unlikely to be able to produce top quality opera that would attract high-spending opera tourists from Britain, the United States and Continental Europe. This is not only a case of lost operas but a case of lost jobs. Opera Ireland was by far the biggest employer of Irish singers in the country.

Will the Arts Council get the required funding or must it skim off funds from other deserving areas of the arts? If all else fails will it be possible to reconstitute Opera Ireland with funding comparable to that of 2010 to provide Dublin with adequate mainstream opera productions? Senior figures in the industry have said opera in Ireland is now precariously balanced.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Following the announcement of the budget and the Estimates, I will be providing the Arts Council with its funding. As a result of the established principle under law, the Arts Council will then decide how to spend that money. The council is considering the future of opera at present, has sought suggestions from interested bodies and will obviously arrive at a solution. The Arts Council has always been very supportive of opera. It was forced to reduce the funding available for opera as a result of the reduction in its own budget. I am sure the Deputy is aware that there were a number of difficulties with Opera Ireland which, unfortunately, had to be wound down. However, the Opera Theatre Company is functioning very well and is promoting opera throughout the country. Wexford Festival Opera will be commencing its annual autumn programme shortly.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Next week.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Yes. The Arts Council has made a major investment in Wexford Festival Opera, which has proven to be very successful. I have a personal interest in opera and I will be working with the Arts Council as much as possible in the context of identifying a solution which will ensure opera will be available for the people.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for his reply in which he responded to most of my concerns. I have one further question. Are there efficiencies to be gained by considering an all-Ireland approach involving some form of arrangement with Northern Ireland Opera in this area?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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We seek, where possible, to collaborate with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. This is something I have tried to encourage and I hope to meet the directors of both councils in the future. It is very desirable to encourage collaboration, where possible, and that is something I support and recommend. Collaboration is already taking place in many areas of the arts and if such collaboration would enhance the position of opera in this country, then action should be taken. I will make further inquiries into the matter on the Deputy's behalf to discover what is happening.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I take on board what the Minister stated, namely, that the Arts Council is independent. However, during the period when its funding was reduced by 21%, the Arts Council cut funding to Opera Ireland by 52%. This represents more than twice the level of the reduction in funding nationally.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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If I could answer that-----

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Perhaps the Minister could ensure that similar reductions will not be made next year. No one is questioning the good work being done by Wexford Festival Opera.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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When it was proposed that Irish National Opera would be put in place, there was an expectation that what we are discussing would happen. As a result, the Arts Council reduced the funding it was making available. One of my predecessors announced exactly what would happen, stated that there would be departmental support, relieved the Arts Council of responsibility for the opera brief and established a special implementation group. When Irish National Opera presented its report to me, it indicated that funding of €4.5 million, in respect of which provision had not been made, would be required. Unfortunately, that amount was not available. Irish National Opera was about to appoint a chief executive and put in place an entire structure for something for which provision had never been made. The level of Arts Council funding being made available in respect of opera would have been influenced by the expectation that Irish National Opera would eventually come into operation. This could possibly be the explanation with regard to what occurred.