Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

As a constituency colleague and former teaching colleague of the Minister, I hope the Cathaoirleach will give me a little latitude in acknowledging his bona fides in the arts long before he became a member of the Cabinet. He has driven and delivered some fantastic arts projects in Kerry and I know he will continue in that vein at national level. I have three questions. I am pushing an open door with the Minister, and although he cannot interfere with the Arts Council budget, can he ring-fence money for regional arts centres? He knows what a wonderful job they are doing. They are allowing people in rural communities access to the arts. I know Senator Mac Conghail's theatre, as well as the National Concert Hall and Opera Ireland, must fight battles for funding. It is important to have arts in the regions.

Will the Minister try his best to get music into our schools? We are still in the 18th century in this regard, particularly in trying to get music on the curriculum in all-male schools. We have all seen the wonderful joy that music can bring to young people in garage and pop bands. I know this from my own family.

The final question may be the most politically difficult for the Minister. In the run-up to 2016 I would like to address a significant omission made in our capital city. Every one of the 1916 leaders is commemorated in the city between rail stations, the Cathal Brugha barracks, Collins and Griffith avenues. One man is not commemorated and I would like to see Éamon de Valera with proper respect in the city by 2016.