Dáil debates
Thursday, 15 November 2018
Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions
Arts Funding
10:45 am
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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3. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to organisations in County Tipperary and in other counties by her Department and agencies under her aegis between 2014 and 2017 by headings (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47563/18]
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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Could the Minister outline the funding allocated to organisations in County Tipperary and in other counties by her Department and agencies under her aegis between 2014 and 2017?
Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department operates a wide range of funding schemes in support of cultural development across Ireland and details of the various schemes are published on my Department’s website. One of the schemes to which the Deputy refers is funded by the Arts Council, which is independent in its funding decisions. Details of funding by this agency are also published on its website, and in its annual report and accounts, which are published and available in the Oireachtas Library for all the years sought, including 2017. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that total funding of €1.54 million has been provided to County Tipperary in the period 2014 to 2017, under the various schemes to which he refers. This includes funding of €1.3 million from the Arts Council, and funding of €233,855 from my Department under two of the three schemes listed by the Deputy in the question he tabled.
For the Deputy's convenience, I have arranged to have the breakdown of funding allocated to organisations in County Tipperary by my Department and the Arts Council sent directly to him. I am pleased to note that in relation to schemes run by my Department, funding has been allocated to Tipperary County Museum for regional exhibitions, co-operation with Northern Ireland and mobility of collections. Funding has also been provided to Tipperary County Council for Culture Night. Under capital developments, my Department has funded the Black Castle Theatre Company, the Source Arts Centre, the Tipperary Excel Heritage Company Limited, the South Tipperary Arts Centre, Cloughjordan Arts, the Nenagh Arts Centre and COSAOS Limited.
While organisations in Tipperary have not received funding to date in one of the schemes to which the Deputy referred in his question, this particular scheme has only been in operation since 2017. I look forward to seeing future applications from Tipperary under this scheme. In budget 2019, I announced total expenditure of €339 million towards culture, language and heritage in 2019. This funding includes additional funding of more than €36 million for my Department in 2019, an increase of 12% on 2018 allocations.
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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The fact that Tipperary and similar counties have been deprioritised in terms of economic development places a greater focus on the resources we have to hand. One of those resources, of which we are proud in Tipperary, is our heritage and environment as they underpin the tourism industry in the county. While the organisations and companies working in the cultural sector might not be as recognisable as others, they provide important sustainable employment in the catchment areas in which they operate, as well as attract tourists, both national and international. The quality of life and viability of many of our small towns is dependent on the heritage and arts sector that is in place. For that reason the Department's support for an investment directly through the local authorities is vital to us. Unfortunately, funding in recent years has been limited and inadequate but I am pleased to see that we have an increase in the capital budget for 2019. Could the Minister outline the additional supports that will be made available in the context of the forthcoming centenary celebrations, and how her Department intends to promote those celebrations in an inclusive way to a wider audience?
Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that the increase in funding comprises €21 million in capital expenditure, an increase of 39% on 2018 funding and €15 million in current expenditure, which is a 6% increase.
Deputy Lowry mentioned heritage in Tipperary. He might wish to note that the Heritage Council, which is under the aegis of my Department, supports a wide range of heritage projects throughout the country through its annual grants programme. In 2017 County Tipperary received significant moneys under the structures at risk fund and the built heritage investment scheme. The Corner House in McDonagh Square received €17,000. The Thatch in Cloneen, Clonmel received €15,000 and under the structures at risk fund in 2017 a total of €17,000 was provided. The structures at risk fund for 2018 was €32,000. Some of the grants from that fund went to the Black Castle in Templemore, St. Cronan's Church in Church Street, Roscrea and Ardfinnan Castle in Clonmel.
We have an all-party committee working on commemorative events. We are moving into a very sensitive period and we must make sure that we are inclusive and respectful of all views in order that we can properly and adequately commemorate the events that are coming up in a respectful way. I am very mindful of that.
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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An example of the type of work funded by the Tipperary arts office is a local group called Phoenix Productions in Thurles. Each year the group produces a cabaret performance and a full musical theatre production. The age of the cast generally ranges from 14 to 20 years of age. To date, some 400 young people from the locality have benefitted from the overall life experience of the project. Participation affords the cast members a unique opportunity to gain self-confidence in a public forum by being on stage and they have positive interaction with people of different age groups, backgrounds, schools and ability. The cultural lessons of teamwork, mutual respect, application and discipline are learned and no one is excluded. Anybody who wishes to participate is allowed to do so. This group has produced some fantastic performances in recent years and is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary. I would like the arts office in Tipperary to fund the group, through the Department, because it is finding it difficult to survive financially. There is significant voluntary effort and commitment involved and the group deserves support.
Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I did not catch the name of the group at the start of Deputy Lowry's contribution. The Arts Council is independent in how it funds artists but it does fund artists at a grassroots level. I increased the budget this year from €68 million to €75 million. There is a scheme to support small-scale local festivals and summer schools. It is reserved for appropriate festivals and groups. The maximum funding provided is €5,000. That may well be a scheme the theatre group would fit into. I note that Tipperary has received no funding under the scheme since its inception in 2017 and that is regrettable. Only one application was made in 2018 for the Tipperary Peace Convention but it was assessed as having insufficient cultural content demonstrated on the application to merit funding.
11 o’clock
There will always be other opportunities for this group to apply and I hope it will be supported and nurtured in its development.