Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have yet to welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Humphreys, to this House. We are now days out from budget 2017. I ask that following the budget announcement next week, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, brief this Chamber on the work of her Department and answer questions in that regard.

I raise this issue in the context of previous budgets having ebbed away at supports for our cultural and arts communities. Modest increases will not serve to repair our cultural landscape and years of consistent policy damage must be recognised in the forthcoming budget. Only then can we facilitate the creation of a world class industry from the ground up.

What is required is an immediate return of support for the Arts Council, investment in which directly impacts on employment. Sinn Féin's alternative budget, announced this morning, commits to a €10 million increase in Arts Council funding for 2017 and a €500,000 increase in funding for Culture Ireland which supports Irish artists abroad, the benefits of which can be seen at festivals abroad, including Milwaukee. Culture Ireland also supports our cultural tourism offering.

Our film industry has endured disproportionate cuts of 50%. Sinn Féin is committed to increasing funding for the Irish Film Board by way more than one third. With sustained investment and resources Ireland can continue to attract big budget productions and also support the talent in our education system around the small and medium-sized production sector.

Aside from all of this, a space must be created for our young people not only as an audience but as artists or future artists.We need a national youth arts strategy. I reiterate my call for the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to come to the House to answer questions on the arts and cultures.