Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

Tá a lán ráite mar gheall ar an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an Ghaeilge, an chultúr agus an ealaín. Molaim é sin.

My question is on voluntary participation in the arts. As we know, much of the arts is done through a voluntary capacity and I resigned as chairperson of Rua Red, the arts centre in south Dublin, when I came in here. I miss it but I will work for the arts while here.

With regard to cross-Border participation, we should note Voluntary Arts Ireland, or the Voluntary Arts Network, VAN, as it is known in Northern Ireland. Currently, the VAN works in a voluntary and professional capacity both North and South. Voluntary Arts Ireland links us to similar bodies in England, Scotland and Wales. Much work has been done in a voluntary capacity in a disjointed way around the country. Comhaltas has worked in the traditional arts but Senator Ó Murchú has covered the topic on the music side. Could we provide a link with Northern Ireland through the VAN, as there is a pilot project running in Donegal, Sligo and Fermanagh?