Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I met NAMA officials. They are loan managers, not property developers, and, therefore, they are facilitating people, hopefully, in a significant way in certain instances. The likes of the Senator or her community should engage with NAMA if buildings are available. I met the agency's officials and we discussed possibilities for the arts in vacant buildings and they have been enthusiastic and co-operative. They will work through the owners of the buildings as they manage the loans and they will be facilitators. I have been assured by them that they will be sympathetic when it comes to the arts.

I have referred to arts in education on numerous occasions. It is very much my ambition to facilitate more engagement between schools and communities and universities. I agree with the Senator regarding a regional strategy for the arts. In 1994, the then Minister, Michael D. Higgins, drafted a spatial strategy for the arts. It identified the need for theatres in Letterkenny, Portlaoise and other towns that did not have facilities. The cultural development incentive scheme, CDIS, funded these facilities and at the time a committee was set up to identify where grant money should be spent. There was one proposal for Dingle but the money was transferred to another iconic project that did not work out. The remainder of the money was allocated as directed at the time. That was the last time a proper regional spatial strategy was drafted for arts provision. When I travel around the country, I sometimes come across two major facilities located close to each other, which could have worked together using a common space.

Senator Conway also raised the issue of arts spaces and cultural venues and rates. Generally, local authorities give these venues an exemption if they are run by community groups. It depends on the local authority but the general understanding is that if it is a community facility and it is undertaking cultural programmes and so on, it will be accommodated.