Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

In nearly every town and village, marching bands have flourished in recent years. They range from accordion bands to orchestra bands, from flute bands to brass bands. They play at nearly every local festival, pageant or football match. Many bands, such as the Castlerea and Boyle marching bands, are great ambassadors for the country when they attend St. Patrick's Day parades as far afield as the UK and New York.

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism must set up a fund for these bands. Unfortunately, when they seek funding, they are caught in a no-man's land. While there are some amenity grants from various county councils and VECs, they often only amount to €300. The cost of kitting out a band can be in the tens of thousands of euro. The cost for performing, to cover travel and insurance, can also be expensive. Most bands address a social need of many communities as they support the involvement of young people in community activities. In the south, where there are many pipe bands, every village is proud of its own band.

In Northern Ireland, marching bands can benefit substantially from UK lottery grants. However, in the south, bands cannot fit into the national lottery funding criteria. I have raised this matter with the Arts Council. I ask the Minister to explore the establishment of a ring-fenced fund for marching bands. Such a scheme could be open to all and allow ownership of the instruments purchased through funding. I accept such a fund must be controlled and marching bands would be anxious to comply with whatever conditions would be set down. The moneys will be well spent because marching bands provide a social service and enjoyment to the people who participate in them and their audiences.