William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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13. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding that has been allocated to a centre (details supplied) in Portlaoise, County Laois, over the past five years; the funding that is planned for the centre in the coming years; whether there are opportunities to access additional departmental or national funding streams to support its ongoing operation, programming, and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63402/25]

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am raising this question to get clear and committed support for Dunamaise Arts Centre in County Laois. This centre opened in 1999. Capital funding was supported by the then Minister for arts, Michael D. Higgins. Matching funding was proposed by me in the council chamber in Laois in 1999. Dunamaise Arts Centre has served as the cornerstone for cultural life in Laois and the wider midlands. I am asking the Minister to provide funding for the centre and outline the additional funding available to support its ongoing operation, programming and development.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in the programme for Government, the Government believes that culture and the arts are essential to a well-rounded society providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. My Department is taking a number of steps to improve, increase and widen access to the arts.

A network of cultural infrastructure exists throughout the country with the majority in the ownership of local authorities. My Department provides capital support for arts and culture infrastructure while annual support, including programming and revenue supports, is provided by local authorities and the Arts Council.

The centre in Portlaoise referred to by the Deputy has been awarded capital funding of over €340,000 under various schemes from my Department since 2006. Within the past five years, it availed of funding to the value of €9,996 under stream D of the cultural capital scheme, a scheme which was set up in direct response to Covid-19 to assist organisations with re-opening safely.

As I mentioned, annual support, including programming and revenue supports, for arts and culture centres is provided by the Arts Council. I understand the organisation in question is in receipt of annual funding from the Arts Council and was awarded €125,000 in 2024 and €145,000 in 2025.

My Department has a capital funding scheme open for applications called stream E of the cultural capital scheme. It focuses on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country and provides grants of up €50,000. I believe the organisation in question is aware of this scheme and had been in the process of submitting an application in September of this year but has put it on hold and expects to resubmit the full application in due course. The Department would welcome this application as soon as the applicant is in a position to submit it.

Finally, as announced in budget 2026, my Department has been allocated €6 million for a new arts capital programme for arts and culture organisations across the country in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. My Department is in the process of designing the specifications of the scheme, including the setting of eligibility criteria.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. For 25 years the Dunamaise Arts Centre has provided a home for drama, music, film, community groups, festivals and the visual arts in my region. It has supported both professional and amateur artists. It has built a reputation for excellence. The centre has vibrant, energetic and ambitious plans and is ready to expand and strengthen its role as the cultural heart of the county. However, the centre urgently requires renewed investment. Its technical and production infrastructure is now significantly outdated. Essential systems have reached the end of their lifespan, including lighting and power distribution, control desks and production computers. Much of the lighting is based on older, unsustainable technology soon to be phased out under EU regulations. Dunamaise Arts Centre needs full modernisation. The estimated cost is approximately €220,000 and this is not outrageous. Without this investment, the ability of the centre to safely and professionally host performances will be compromised.

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Thank you, Deputy.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am asking for the core infrastructure funding for the centre. It is ideally placed-----

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Thank you, Deputy.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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-----for departmental cultural capital funds------

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Thank you, Deputy.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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-----Arts Council supports, Creative Ireland initiatives and sustainability-----

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Deputy, thank you.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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-----based on funding schemes.

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Minister to reply.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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There is nobody else here.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As I said a while ago, I understand Dunamaise Arts Centre is due to bring forward an application. It was to bring this forward in September, I think, but it has been delayed for some reason. Once that application is brought forward, it can be assessed. The important thing in the wider scheme for these centres is we will have an arts capital scheme that is the first of its kind, as soon as we have eligibility and a process in place. That has to be approved by the Minister for public expenditure before it can be formally launched. Regional centres and smaller centres around the country do not get as much money as some of the larger ones, especially those based in Dublin, and the national cultural institutions, which are wholly dependent on the State. These centres will have access to smaller levels of funding that can do the things the Deputy was talking about such as sound desks, lighting, improvements to seating and ticket offices, IT enhancements and all that.

We will not be able to do everything. I imagine we will be inundated in year one but if we are I hope that will form the blueprint for us to have a bigger budget from the Department of public expenditure in future years.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his remarks. That is the most positive reply I have received since I became a TD. It looks as though we only have to put in the submission and the Minister will look after us reading between the lines. The Dunamaise Arts Centre can serve its community for the next 25 years as it has for the past 25. I acknowledge the exceptional work of the team there including Ciara O'Connell, the CEO, Nick Antonm the technical manager and all the front-of-house, administrative and technical staff. This commitment has kept a vital cultural space alive through significant challenges. I encourage the people of Laois and all surrounding counties to continue supporting the centre.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The last point the Deputy made is the most important. All these arts centres will only be as good as the local community that supports them. No amount of schemes, interventions and grants will ever supplement what the local community can do by attending and supporting artists, whether touring or local. That is the most important issue. Whether they are in parish halls, purpose-built centres like the Dunamaise Arts Centre, hotels or wherever, the most important thing people can do to have a vibrant arts community is to support the artists and go out on a Friday or Saturday night, or even the middle of the week and see what is on in the local area, be that in Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Rathdowney or wherever. These events need support and do not survive without support and the Government cannot do it all on its own.

On the Deputy's comments about this being the most positive response he has received since he came into the Dáil, I am flattered and thank him very much. I encourage the Dunamaise Arts Centre to put in its application. Obviously once that is in, that will be assessed according to the strict criteria within the Department.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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There have not been many who have spoken here this morning so I should be at the top of the list.

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We move on. Deputy Aird is up again for Question No. 41. Or is that the same question?

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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It is the same question.

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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That question has been dealt with. We will take Question No. 72 as Deputy Ó Snodaigh is here and there is nobody else. He probably did not think we would get to that question.