Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress which has taken place in terms of a coherent national approach to funding arts here since the launch of the first set of national guidelines for the per cent for art scheme by him in December 2004. [20253/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the "per cent for art" scheme is to ensure that an art work is commissioned as part of every capital project undertaken by public agencies, including Departments, with the cost provided for from the outset of project planning. Although implementation has been somewhat uneven, the fruits of the scheme can be seen all around the country, from the "Perpetual Motion" exhibit outside Naas, to Kiltimagh in County Mayo, to Waterford Regional Hospital.

The national guidelines for the per cent for art scheme seek to standardise practice and approaches to facilitate the application of the scheme in a coherent and consistent way across Departments and agencies. The guidelines were launched in December 2004 and have been circulated by my Department to other Departments, local authorities and public bodies to ensure their implementation on as wide a basis as possible. A review of the implementation of the scheme will be undertaken when the guidelines have been in operation for a full year.

It should be borne in mind that the purpose of the guidelines is to assist project managers. They are not mandatory and so there is no role for the Department in enforcing them. Reaction to the scheme has been generally positive and the guidelines are seen as practical and workable.