Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for coming into the House to deal with this matter. It is not always possible for Ministers who are directly responsible for the matter put down to come to the House.

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Clare Association in New York. The Clare Association is one of the more prestigious Irish associations in New York and has played a significant role in promoting County Clare and Ireland in New York and throughout the United States. As part of its celebrations and given that this is the millennial anniversary of the death of Brian Boru who, as the Minister is aware, had significant connections with east Clare, the Clare Association has invited the Tulla pipe band, which is rich in culture and tradition.

The Tulla area of County Clare is representative of the quality of traditional music and music in general in this country. As well as the Tulla Pipe Band, the Minister might also be familiar with the Tulla Céilí Band. The Tulla Pipe Band was honoured and delighted to accept the invitation to lead the St. Patrick's Day parade. This is taking place in the same year as the millennium Brian Ború celebrations and the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Clare Association.

The reality, however, is that there is a significant cost - an estimated minimum of €50,000 - involved in taking a pipe band to New York. As the Minister is well aware, pipe bands do not have that type of money. Clare County Council, under the personal direction of Councillor Joe Arkins, who is doing a fine job as Mayor of Clare and who reflects traditional culture and values in his own voluntary contributions to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and to Irish music in general, together with his colleague councillors from east Clare, has made between €10,000 and €15,000 available from a very tight budget to facilitate this trip. The Clare Association is also making a contribution, as are the members of the band themselves. However, these combined contributions will fall somewhat short of the €50,000 that is required to allow the band to travel to New York.

This is a golden opportunity for partnership. Given the very difficult experience Clare has had in recent weeks as a consequence of the inclement weather and the job of repair that remains to be done, it would be an excellent partnership gesture from the Minister and from Culture Ireland were the latter to make a small financial contribution towards the cost of the Tulla Pipe Band going to New York for St. Patrick's Day. The band's participation would showcase what is good about our country and its culture and help to promote Ireland and Clare by showing the people of New York, the United States and the world the quality of music emanating from our shores. We in Clare have had a difficult three weeks and have received telephone calls and expressions of goodwill from all over the world. I ask the Minister to encourage Culture Ireland to make a financial contribution to enable the Tulla Pipe Band to make its trip to New York. That gesture of support would be well appreciated by all involved.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Conway for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am familiar with the county associations in New York. The Clare Association is one of the most vibrant, along with others representing the west coast, including the Kerry Association. I agree that this is a very important year for the Clare Association as it celebrates its 125th anniversary. It has made a major contribution to the lives of Irish people in New York, having assisted thousands of young Irish immigrants and made a major contribution to the promotion of Gaelic games and Irish music in that city.

The Culture Ireland division of my Department promotes Irish arts worldwide, creating and supporting opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. This is achieved, inter alia, through a regular grant round scheme. The Culture Ireland expert advisory committee, at its most recent grant round in December 2013, considered applications for events in 2014, which included the St. Patrick's Day period. More than 270 applications were received, 48% of which were recommended for support. Unfortunately, the application referred to by the Senator was not recommended for funding.

To be eligible for funding, the primary purpose of the proposed international visit must be to present the work of Irish artists to a wide audience through performance or exhibition. The Culture Ireland division initially assesses the applications under the following criteria: quality of work and track record of the artist or company; level of geographic priority for the Government; profile of the international venue or festival; financial viability of the event, including the level of support from the presenter or other partners; proven capacity of the applicant to present work internationally; and any wider promotional and media impact. Culture Ireland, in considering applications, consults with the embassy network in regard to the significance of the venue, likely impact of the event and any other local considerations before the applications are assessed by the expert advisory committee. The final recommendations are based on the extent to which the above criteria are met. Given the level of demand for Culture Ireland support, it is not possible to fund all eligible applications or even to fund all successful applications to the full level sought.

In regard to the specific application referred to by the Senator, the impact for the group had to be considered, given the number of other artists performing at the same St. Patrick's Day festival, as did the extent of support required in order to travel to the United Sates. It is a further consideration that where support is offered, it must deliver good value for money. Multiple venues and joined-up touring is encouraged, particularly where distant travel is proposed. This particular application was for only one event, at a time when there will be many competing demands for audience attention. I am happy to arrange for further feedback directly to the applicant if that is required.

Over the St. Patrick's Day period, the Culture Ireland division is supporting an increased number of events across the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Australia, Russia and China. Culture Ireland will work closely with other Departments and State agencies to maximise the impact of these events for the wider benefit of all concerned and will endeavour to enhance Ireland's strong global reputation at this key time, when there is a worldwide spotlight on Ireland's cultural and creative strengths abroad. I am sorry I do not have more positive news for the Senator. As I said, there has been a large number of applications. A céilí band from my own area applied for funding and was very disappointed when it was not successful. We are putting a major focus on St. Patrick's Day as an international day of Irish culture throughout the world. It provides a great opportunity to connect with communities throughout the world on an occasion when they receive a great deal of attention on a global scale. Our intention is to develop a theme around St. Patrick's Day as an international day of Irish culture. The Tulla Pipe Band might be lucky enough to receive funding in the future. In the meantime, it might be possible to identify other sources of funding for this year. I would be happy to have a chat about that with the Senator.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for coming in today to take this matter and for his comprehensive reply. I am concerned that the Tulla Pipe Band's application was not given comprehensive consideration in the context of the significance of the 125th anniversary of the Clare Association, which is in itself a banner event, and the tourism opportunity represented by the Brian Ború millennium celebrations, a national cultural event in 2014 in respect of which there is a strong east Clare connection. Those factors were not considered by the adjudicating panel in reaching its decision. Is there any way the application might be reviewed by Culture Ireland if additional background information were to be submitted to Culture Ireland?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I remind the Senator that although Culture Ireland comes within the remit of my Department, it operates independently, with an independent panel charged with assessing applications. I do not direct the division on how it should dispense its allocation of funding. It operates, in effect, on the same arms-length principle as does the Arts Council. Unfortunately, I was forced to reduce the funding allocation - it was a considerable reduction of some €700,000 - to Culture Ireland this year as a result of pressure from across the arts spectrum. Nevertheless, I will undertake to request Culture Ireland to review its decision in this case. I cannot, however, direct it on how to spend its allocation.