Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I certainly welcome the €9 million. What is probably needed is a longer term strategy that indicates over a government's term how much would be invested in this space, and also to get a sense of how much space is needed. The only audit that has taken place is by Dublin City Council. I wonder if the Arts Council or the Department has done that work. There is empty space everywhere - in private office blocks, public buildings, departmental buildings, and I am sure there is a huge amount of spare space in RTÉ and above shops.

I welcome the memorandum of understanding between the Arts Council and the Dublin Port Company on their intention to repurpose buildings at the Odlums flour mills site at Dublin Port and to turn it into an artists' workspace and campus. That was announced in 2022. At the time the Arts Council said it hoped it would be open by the start of 2025 and that 50 artists' studios would be available there. Is that on track and what is the timescale for it?

I will write to the Minister and thank her for her statement. I thank the Minister of State for delivering it here on her behalf. I will also write to her about the need for an overall national strategy.