Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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58. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if any progress has been made on a website portal and joint commercial and marketing strategy as outlined in the Comprehensive Review of Expendidure 2012-2014; if he will outline that progress; the projected income that such an initiative might accrue to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44239/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 37, 45, 56 and 59 on 18 September 2013.

As the Deputy may be aware, as part of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2012-2014, my Department considered a range of possible options for savings in respect of its arts and culture programme area. This included a website portal and joint commercial and marketing strategy. Under the Croke Park and Haddington Road reform programme, we have now gone beyond what was contemplated by the comprehensive review of expenditure. Indeed, savings of the order of 20% to 25% in the Exchequer allocations to the cultural institutions have been made since 2010.

In tandem with that, the Government had agreed a range of reforms under the Public Service Reform Plan 2011 for a number of the national cultural institutions under the aegis of my Department. The focus within my Department and the national cultural institutions has been concentrated on the implementation of the reform plan and there has been an intensive engagement by all in that process. I have previously advised the House of the shared service models that are being developed for the national cultural institutions through my Department for corporate support services and, by formal inter-institutional agreement, for operational services. For example, the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, IMMA, and the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, have been working more closely together and this has recently been formally codified by way of a shared services agreement. This commits these institutions to working more closely together in a range of areas, including human resources, procurement, conservation and photography services, collection management, including cataloguing and digitisation, storage, insurance, enterprise and marketing.

Preliminary estimates for savings provided to me earlier this year indicate that approximately €100,000 will have been saved over the course of 2012 and 2013 through the shared services agenda at the three galleries.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

As I outlined previously, in overall terms it is expected that operational and support savings in the region of approximately €1 million will be initially realised from the reform programme across the institutions involved, which are funded from my Department's Vote group, with further savings to be identified as the various cost efficiencies are implemented. This is all against the backdrop of respecting the programming, curatorial and operational independence of the directors.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Ellis. The Minister made deep and very damaging budget cuts under several headings in the Department. My question is asked on the basis that, where there are reductions in expenditure, cuts to front line and key services would be avoided as best as possible and that, where possible, such reductions in funding could be achieved through shared rather than reduced services. I mean that in a real way. Too often when this Government talks about shared services, one side or the other of an equation loses out.

I tabled a written question some time ago and the answer I received was less than satisfactory. It referred to Haddington Road, shared HR practice and to agreements between the key institutions on operational matters. A new approach to marketing strategy and a website portal would enhance the work of all these institutions and would, to a large extent, improve the web accessibility of the key institutions and museums. It could also save money for the marketing budget without necessarily cutting expenditure on exhibitions and research. Can the Minister tell us whether he will now engage with these organisations and discuss with them the benefits or drawbacks of such an approach?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Several different options were and are being considered. I am delighted, as I outlined in my response, that last week IMMA, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Crawford Gallery signed a shared services agreement. This is unique and historical. The previous proposal was that the three galleries would be amalgamated into one.

I decided against that. I thought it would not work so I left them as independent entities. However, I also asked them to share services which they are now doing, be it marketing, HR, legal or other aspects of their operations. Last week, IMMA signed up to shared services with our Department so things are really happening out there.

With regard to a website portal and a joint commercial and marketing strategy, we have not produced the website portal yet but it is a matter for consideration. We can certainly look at that option when the final rationalisation takes place and the changes occur when I introduce legislation and I can see some merits to it. It will depend on the resources available but it is not something I have totally dismissed.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for his answer. I am glad he will look at it. However, in times such as these, creative approaches to saving money are required and introducing such a Web portal could be of great benefit to the institutions.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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It is something we will keep under active consideration. I thank the national cultural institutions who have co-operated with my Department and officials and are very serious about rationalisation and saving money. Another departure will be reducing all numbers on State boards to nine members which, again, will result in a saving so things are happening out there, people are co-operating and there is a very good response to collaboration. I am certainly very happy with the progress. Deputy McLellan's suggestion merits serious consideration and I mean that sincerely. It will be kept on the agenda.