Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

41. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40519/17]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What are the Minister's plans for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board for 2018 and afterwards?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Arts Council and the Irish Film Board are independent in their decision making processes and it is a matter for the boards of each body to set out its plans. However, both the Arts Council and the Film Board play a central role in delivering the Creative Ireland programme, which is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national well-being.

Significant progress has been achieved in the delivery of the ten actions identified for 2017 under the Creative Ireland programme, both at home and abroad. It is my intention to build upon this progress by strengthening all aspects of our arts and cultural infrastructure, including key agencies such the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as resources permit.

The Government has already shown its determination to deliver on the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve.

To this effect in budget 2017, I secured significant additional funding for both the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board.

The increase in the Arts Council’s allocation in 2017 was €5 million, or 8%. This will assist the council greatly in implementing its ten-year strategy for 2016-2025, Making Great Art Work, including under its new funding framework.

I also secured an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board in budget 2017, bringing the total allocation for 2017 to over €16 million. Budgetary decisions relating to both bodies for 2018 will be made in the context of budget 2018.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister has stressed her commitment to the development of the arts in Ireland. I am at a slight loss at the Minister's references to Creative Ireland. Is Creative Ireland now effectively an oversight body that picks up all the elements of the arts in Ireland? Separately, what is the strategy relating to the Arts Council, with which huge numbers of living, working artists have a connection through funding and other supports? Second, the Minister again referred to Creative Ireland with regard to the Irish Film Board. What is her vision for the Irish Film Board, given that it is hugely responsible for the image Ireland has in the modern world both in terms of the good films that have been coming from Ireland and the image of Ireland conveyed to the wider world? This country will face many difficulties post Brexit. Arts and culture are our main calling point. I understand that Creative Ireland is going around the country and promoting the Government's presence in the arts in each county. However, these are institutions that deal with the work of artists, Ireland's performance in the arts and what we say to the wider world. I wish to know about that aspect.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On the question about our image to the wider world, pillar 5 of the Creative Ireland programme is about unifying our global message to the world and telling the world that this country is rich in culture and heritage and that Ireland is a good place to come to live, to invest and to study. It is about promoting that image to the world.

Creative Ireland is not an oversight body. It is not about that. It is about enabling people to work collaboratively. The independence of the Arts Council continues, and I absolutely respect that. It is funded and I will make a case for increased funding in the run-up to the budget. We work extremely well with the Arts Council. However, it is not about any single organisation but about how we can all work collaboratively for the benefit of the artists, art and culture in this country.

The Irish Film Board is the national development agency for Irish film making for the film, television and the animation industry. Its statutory remit is to assist and encourage the making of film in the State and the development of a film industry in Ireland. The board supports writers, directors and production companies across three sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. Indeed, I met all the stakeholders in that sector a number of months ago and they were able to tell me what the issues are. Creative Ireland is about working collaboratively with all the different stakeholders in the industry for the benefit of the industry and to allow more people to engage with and participate in culture and the arts.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Given that the Minister acknowledges the importance of the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, what demands has she put forward for 2018 to broaden funding to the sector? Many artists struggle financially. Much of their fame arises after they have died and, as the Minister mentioned earlier, their estates can be very valuable. However, that does not help many artists necessarily in their lifetimes. Incidentally, I understand the cnuas has been restored to the artist Patrick Pye. That is a good development. The Minister will recall the debate when there was an attempt to reallocate or reassign money in terms of support for the artist. Support for artists through Aosdána has had strong support from the Oireachtas.

I still do not understand Creative Ireland. What is the separate budget for Creative Ireland at present? Where money was spent on that might be helpful.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister recently on the Irish Film Board. The film board does good work and it is wonderful to see the results of that. However, it is also necessary for Deputies to scrutinise the work of these bodies and to ensure there is value for the level of euro invested. My question simply asked how much in loans was being given out by the Irish Film Board annually, how many of the loans were defaulting and if people who had defaulted on loans received loans subsequent to that. The reply I received basically advised me to look up the information in the annual report of the Irish Film Board, which did not answer my question. I examined the report but I could not find the details I had sought.

I am also slightly concerned about the structure of the tax breaks in the sector. What we must do with those tax breaks is ensure we are left with a growing, deeper infrastructure that produces for the future. I am worried that some of the schemes are just mechanisms whereby foreign firms can partner with local firms without leaving an infrastructure or a human resource behind to develop the industry.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The budget this year for Creative Ireland was €5 million. Of that, €1 million was used to facilitate local authorities to set up the Creative Ireland co-ordinators. Some €1.2 million was for Cruinniú na Cásca, which was a very successful cultural day on Easter Monday. We have a website and social media for getting the story out abroad. That is very important. In fact, our website, Ireland.ie, has received more than 2 million hits. These are people who are looking at Ireland.ieand seeing what we have to offer. It is important that we showcase our great strengths and our rich cultural heritage to the world.

With regard to the Irish Film Board, I will ask the board to write to Deputy Tóibín directly on the figures he has sought.

One of the pillars of the Creative Ireland plan is to make Ireland a centre of excellence for media production. I will continue to work closely with the Irish Film Board to ensure that this objective is achieved. There are many opportunities in this area. The Deputy is correct that culture is a wonderful calling card. According to IDA Ireland, it also a provides great opportunities to open doors.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To respond to Deputy Tóibín, if a Deputy does not receive an accurate answer to a parliamentary question, it is entirely within his or her power to refer the matter to the Ceann Comhairle who will have the question answered. I also ask Members, including the Minister, to show respect for the House and the orders of the Dáil by adhering to the limits on speaking time.