Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the Arts Council will be publishing a new arts and disability policy in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20441/17]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to ask the Minister if the Arts Council will be publishing a new arts and disability policy in 2017 and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts, including arts and disability, throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The council is independent in both its funding and executive decisions.

In 2013 the Arts Council published its arts and disability policy 2012 to 2016 to address issues of equity, access and participation for artists and audiences with disabilities. The policy is available on the council's website. It was developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and the council continues to work in partnership with the sector in its implementation. The policy is built on a number of key values, including equality, the social model of disability, the complexity and diversity of people and practices, an holistic approach and inclusion. Arts Council policy recognises the complexity and diversity of people and practices that make up the arts sector in Ireland. It acknowledges and values the artistic contribution of artists and other art professionals with disabilities and is committed to the provision of support not only for artists and other arts professionals but also for participants, artistic collaborators and audiences with disabilities. The council also makes every effort to provide reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities who wish to submit an application but have difficulties in accessing online services.

I understand the Arts Council’s arts and disability policy is due to be reviewed and updated in the context of the council's new ten year strategy, Making Great Art Work, which is expected to be published in the coming months. I will ask the council to reply directly to the Deputy on its plans for a policy document.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. As she said, the last arts and disability strategy from the Arts Council ran until 2016. The strategy outlined the council's approach to providing access to the arts for people with disabilities. It provided a much needed opportunity for people with disabilities to make their input to the Minister's Department and outline the difficulties they were experiencing in accessing the arts and cultural sector in Ireland. Since the plan expired, we have not seen any effort being made to replace it, despite the fact that people with disabilities continue to experience huge challenges in accessing the arts and culture sector. I speak of both artists and audiences with disabilities; there are two strands to the issue. In Ireland there is a very low level of participation by children with special educational needs in structured cultural activities. This does not only affect children and young people, as many adults with disabilities report frustration and difficulties in accessing the arts.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Policy on providing access to the arts for people with disabilities is a matter for the Arts Council. As the Deputy is aware, the Arts Council is entirely independent of my Department in its funding and executive decisions. That said, I will ask the council to revert to the Deputy directly on the policy it is devising which I am sure it will be more than happy to do.

In terms of my Department, the Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the successful applicants for the €9 million arts and cultural capital scheme, the largest investment in regional arts facilities in over a decade. Approximately 85% of the funding went to projects outside Dublin. The Deputy will be aware that the town hall in Cavan received €750,000, while the Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen and the old post office in Clones also received funding. It is important to point out that all of these major capital projects must comply with the strict building regulations in place in terms of disability access. That is only right because we want these state-of-the-art facilities and amenities to be inclusive and available for everyone to use and enjoy.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister knows, if we do not provide an arts and disability policy, we will be failing to extend access to people with disabilities. Not only that, we will also be failing to meet our international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Creative Ireland has recently produced a beautiful publication. We have also seen publication of the policy framework, Culture 2025. However, the Creative Ireland publication does not contain anything specific for people with disabilities. I ask the Minister to comment on this.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Arts Council has supported the development of arts and disability practice in Ireland for many years. It developed a formal arts and disability policy in 2012 following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. The council is independent of my Department. It has a policy which will be reviewed in the context of its new ten year strategy, Making Great Art Work. I will be happy to arrange for representatives of the council to speak to the Deputy to update her on its policy on disability. The policy that was in place was built on a number of key values, including equality and the social model of disability. It recognised that access must be considered at the earliest-----

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I asked about the Creative Ireland publication, which makes no mention of people with disabilities. I did not ask about the Arts Council in my supplementary question.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes, but the Arts Council has responsibility for the policy on people with disabilities.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I asked the Minister to comment on the fact that there was no mention of people with disabilities in the Creative Ireland publication.