Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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4. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht last met; and when it is scheduled to meet again. [22964/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht is next meeting. [23042/17]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht last met. [23048/17]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on Arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht last met on Monday, 27 February. The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 25 May.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Tá go leor imní ann faoi pholasaí an Rialtais i dtaobh na Gaolainne. Sa daonáireamh is déanaí, bhí go leor ábhar imní ann freisin. Don chéad uair ó 1947, bhí laghdú ar líon na ndaoine le cumas acu sa Ghaolainn. Tar éis 70 bliain de fás - fás measartha, b'fhéidir - tá sé tagtha chun deiridh leis an Rialtas seo. Is dóigh liomsa go bhfuil faillí á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas maidir leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Tá ocht mbliana de sin nach mór caite agus is beag dul chun cinn atá déanta. Fiú ó thaobh na Gaeltachta, agus is ábhar mór imní í sin, tá an méid daoine atá ag caint na Gaolainne go laethúil laghdaithe 11%.

Mar sin, tá gá le i bhfad níos mó infheistíocht. Nuair a bhíos ar bhord Fhoras na Gaeilge mé féin, chonac go raibh laghdú ar an mbuiséad a bhí ag Foras na Gaeilge fiú nuair a bhí méaduithe in eagraíocht eile. Tá brú suntasach fós ar an mbuiséad atá ansin. Cad faoin méid sa chlár Rialtais go mbeadh Aire sinsearach le freagrach lárnach do ghnóthaí Gaolainne agus Gaeltachta? Níl mórán dul chun cinn ansin. Tá gach freagracht á chur ar an Aire sóisearach. Cad atá an Taoiseach chun déanamh chun cinntiú go bhfuil an buiséad ceart agus leordhóthaineach ag na heagraíochtaí atá freagrach as an nGaolainn a chur chun cinn agus chun cinntiú go bhfuil an Ghaolainn ag lár straitéis agus polasaithe an Rialtais?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Tá a fhios ag an Teachta go maith go bhfuil an coiste seo ag breathnú ar na nithe seo. Maidir leis an mbuiséad, beidh na díospóireachtaí ar siúl go luath i dtreo is go mbeidh buiséad curtha os comhair na Dála i mí Dheireadh Fómhair.

Tá a fhios ag an Teachta freisin gur foilsíodh plean do scoileanna Gaeltachta le déanaí don chéad uair ó bunaíodh an Stát. Cuireadh fáilte mhór roimh an bplean sin. Tá na scoileanna Gaeltachta ag breathnú ar céard gur chóir dóibh a dhéanamh chun buntáistí an phlean a bhaint amach agus ar conas is féidir leo gabháil leis na coinníollacha faoin bplean. Sílim gur mhaith an rud é sin. I mí Eanáir na bliana 2014, foilsíodh trí fhógra faoi Acht na Gaeilge i leith na limistéir seo a leanas: Ciarraí thiar, Cois Fharraige, agus Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire agus Loch an Iúir. I mí an Mheithimh 2014, foilsíodh sé fhógra i leith na limistéar seo a leanas: Gaeltacht na nDéise, Ciarraí theas, An Cheathrú Rua, Ceantar na nOileán, Dún na nGall theas, agus Cloch Cheann Fhaola, Gort a' Choirce, An Fál Carrach agus Machaire Rabhartaigh. I mí Feabhra 2015, foilsíodh ceithre fhógra i leith na limistéir seo a leanas: Árainn Mhór, lár-Chonamara, Múscraí, agus Dúiche Sheoigheach agus Tuar Mhic Éadaigh. I mí Mheán Fómhair 2015, foilsíodh cúig fhógra i leith na limistéir seo a leanas: tuaisceart Dhún na nGall, Oileán Thoraí, Oileáin Árann, Maigh Eo thuaidh, agus Ráth Chairn agus Baile Ghib. I mí Iúil na bliana 2016, foilsíodh cheithre fhógra i leith na limistéir seo a leanas: Oileán Chléire, Maigh Eo thiar, na Rosa agus Maigh Cuilinn. I mí na Samhna na bliana 2016, foilsíodh fógra i leith Gaeltacht an Láir i gContae Dhún na nGall. Tá sé i gceist go gcuirfear tús le hullmhúcháin na pleananna teanga idir seo agus deireadh na bliana sa trí limistéir Gaeltachta eile atá fágtha ag an bpointe seo. Tá súil agam go bhfeicfidh an Teachta go bhfuil próiseas cuimsitheach i gceist anseo. Aithníodh sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge go mbeadh cur chuige céimneach i gceist chun bearta éagsúla na straitéise a chur i gcrích. Foilsíodh na critéir pleanála teanga i mí Mheán Fómhair na bliana 2013 agus foilsíodh na treoirlínte pleanála teanga i mí Eanáir na bliana 2014. Is léir mar sin go raibh obair leanúnach ar siúl ag an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta chun raon leathan gníomhachtaí faoin straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm. Más rud é go bhfuil an tréimhse de dhá bhliain nó mar sin a ceadaíodh i leith gach aon cheann de na limistéir úd chun plean a ullmhú caite nó ag teacht chun deiridh, ag brath ar an gcás tá pleananna teanga i leith na limistéir Cois Fharraige, Gaoth Dobhair agus mar sin-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Is leor sin, a Thaoisigh. Go raibh maith agat.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Déanfaidh sé sin an beart.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Níl teorann ar bith i gceist nuair atá Teachtaí ag labhairt as Gaeilge.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Gabh mo leithscéal, a Thaoisigh, tá tú ar am breise anseo.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Tá Dún na nGall luaite anseo freisin.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Maith thú as an fhreagra.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, bhí tú ag caint liom faoi Anagaire, Rann na Feirste, Gaoth Dobhair, Cloch Cheann Fhaola, Gort a' Choirce, An Fál Carrach agus Machaire Rabhartaigh.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Tá a fhios agam go raibh.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is maith an rud é go gcloiseann siad thuas i nDún na nGall go bhfuil suim ag an Leas-Cheann Comhairle san háiteanna seo ag an bpointe seo.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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An bhfuil níos mó ama de dhíth ort, a Thaoisigh?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Níl.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I wonder whether the African saying the lion roared but gave birth to a mouse might apply to the Government's great plans for Creative Ireland. When the arts were debated here, we heard noble words and fine aspirations from Government speakers who trumpeted their commitment to the arts. What is actually happening? What has actually been discussed in delivering on Creative Ireland? It is difficult to see what might be delivered with the miserable €5 million dedicated to this initiative. What is actually happening with the commitment to community arts? We were told that every child would have an opportunity to express himself or herself creatively. What exactly is happening with the pilot scheme for self-employed artists in receipt of jobseeker's allowance? It has been talked about, but there is no sign of anything being rolled out. Artists face difficulties when they are expected to show that they have been looking for work, but the arts do not work like that. The Government recognised that some scheme was needed. Ministers spoke about establishing a pilot scheme to accommodate the needs of artists, but there is no sign of such a scheme. In the light of its verbal and rhetorical commitment to the arts, has the Government started to consider whether it will provide for a serious increase in the allocation for the arts in the forthcoming budget? I remind the House that this country is at the bottom of the league table for GDP expenditure on the arts. Has the Government discussed this? Are there plans to increase the allocation for the arts significantly in the forthcoming budget?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I will allow Deputies Brendan Howlin and Micheál Martin to ask supplementary questions also.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Do I get extra time if I speak as Gaeilge?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Cinnte, 100%.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Tá Gaeilge mhaith ag an Teachta Howlin.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall. I want to follow up on Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett's questions about the arts. Last week my colleague, Deputy Joan Burton, asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs about the row between Aosdána and the Arts Council about the cnuas stipend paid to members of Aosdána. It appears that a time and motion study is to be conducted by the Department to determine the productivity levels of artists. That will be an interesting little exercise.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is a case of neoliberalism in the arts.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Arts Council has conducted a value for money study in conjunction with Mr. John O'Hagan, a professor of economics at Trinity College Dublin.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Oh God.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Successive Governments have been happy to embrace the arts when Ireland is being presented for branding purposes. That was certainly the case when the arts invariably formed the centrepiece of last year's commemorative events, but it now appears that supports for artists do not feature in the Government's plans. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett referred to the Creative Ireland document which was published by the Government last December. It includes a proposal that was included in the Labour Party's manifesto in last year's general election. I am glad that the Government has embraced this good idea which involves the establishment of a scheme to help self-employed artists. This is a parallel scheme to the farm assist scheme, but we have not learned much more about it since last December. When will we see this practical manifestation of support for artists? I have referred to the ludicrous notion that some assessment of productivity should be made.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is unbelievable.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Will the number of words written, the number of square inches painted or the number of plays produced be counted? How can this be done in the arts?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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James Joyce would have been banjaxed on that principle.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Would it not be good to look at a practical support base for some of the people who are least paid in communities and who often produce enormous good?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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An bhfuil aon mhachnamh déanta ag an Rialtas ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla? D'éirigh an t-iarChoimisinéir Teanga as oifig agus tá Coimisinéir Teanga nua againn anois. Bheadh sé úsáideach dá mbeadh deis ag an gcoimisinéir reatha a gcuid tuairimí i dtaobh roinnt ceisteanna áirithe a nochtadh. Conas a bhfuil an tAcht ag dul ar aghaidh? An bhfuil sé éifeachtach? Mar is eol don Taoiseach, táthar ag caint faoi Acht Teanga sa Tuaisceart. B'fhéidir go mbeimid in ann ár dtuairimí a roinnt leis na húdaráis ó Thuaidh de dheasca an taithí atá againn lenár reachtaíocht. D'fhéadfaimid cur síos a dhéanamh ar cé chomh éifeachtach is atá an Acht, ar na deacrachtaí a bhaineann leis an Acht agus ar conas a bhfuil ag éirí linn maidir leis na dualgaisí atá laistigh den Acht sin. Is léir go bhfuil dul chun cinn mór le fheiceáil maidir le cúrsaí labhartha de, go háirithe ós rud é go bhfuil béim faoi leith ar an nGaeilge labhartha san ardteist. I mo thuairim, tá feabhas mór tagtha ar chumas na Gaeilge labhartha atá ag formhór na mic léinn i measc aos óg na tíre seo.

The €5 million assigned to Creative Ireland which gives the impression that it is a branding exercise lacking in substance will have to be spread around thinly. Many short-term contracts are being given to artists, which means that they have a lack of security in their livelihoods.

That chronic lack of security within the arts sector needs to be addressed because there is a continued reliance on low-cost short-term contracts and limited programmes. The Taoiseach might indicate whether any work is under way on the preparation of a multi-annual strategy for the arts. I agree with Deputy Howlin that the row between Aosdána and the Arts Council is regrettable. We cannot apply utilitarian economic maxims to the work of the artist, much and all as we might like to do so.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Never mind the quality, feel the width.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Somebody might like to put a handle on it because as we know-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Níl mórán ama fágtha.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----from history those who were rejected in previous times became celebrated artists in later times in terms of quality of outputs and so on. I put that to the Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Ba chóir go mbeadh seans ag an Choimisinéir Teanga teacht os comhair Choiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus na nOileán agus a thuairimí a nochtadh faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla. Sílim gur mhaith an tuairim atá ag an Teachta Martin ansin.

As part of the 2017 budget the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs retains the majority of the €18 million current funding for 2017. That is now part of the base line for the arts division of the Department meaning that it will be available for future years also. This included a €5 million increase for the Arts Council, an 8% increase in its annual budget; a boost in funding for all the national cultural institutions; €2 million to allow for the opening of the newly restored wings of the National Gallery of Ireland, which is due to open in the next few weeks; the opening of Killarney House on foot of significant capital investment by the State - €5 million or €6 million was invested in it; an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board; €1 million for Culture Ireland; and funding of €5 million for the implementation of the Creative Ireland programme, which was mentioned.

Aosdána is a unique initiative established by the Arts Council in 1981 to honour creative artists who made a significant contribution to the arts in Ireland. There are currently 250 members in Aosdána: seven new members came into its membership last week. The scheme is the responsibility of the Arts Council and not of the Department. It should be noted that under section 24(2) of the Arts Act 2003, the council is independent of the Minister in its funding decisions.

Members of Aosdána can quality for a means tested payment known as the cnuas, to which Deputy Howlin referred, if they are resident in Ireland and are full-time practising artists.

Following recent internal audits of Aosdána and a value for money policy review of the Arts Council, which was undertaken under the guidance of an expert steering committee chaired by Dr. John O'Hagan, the Arts Council is reviewing all aspects of the administration and procedures of Aosdána to ensure that the most appropriate governance and oversight arrangements are in place. In regard to any issues which arise from the review, these are a matter for the Arts Council and Aosdána. I do not like to see such rows-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Fumbling in a greasy till.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----but I understand there a process of engagement is planned now and I encourage both sides to engage in it thoroughly. There is plenty of experience there, as the Deputy is well aware.

In respect of Creative Ireland, the amount involved was a small amount of money-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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To put it mildly.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----but there has been a fabulous response to it. People have been very enthusiastic. I attended one of the workshops and I met people I had not seen before who are artists in various sectors. They turned up and gave of their views. I will give a brief run-down of some of the items covered by the Arts Council, if I can find it.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Taoiseach can circulate it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will circulate it.