Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 21: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will take particular initiatives to promote the arts and associated facilities throughout the country in both urban and rural settings with particular reference to local identified need and support and the growing demand of the expanding population in conjunction with the development of a greater awareness of the arts and the need to tangibly accommodate such needs at local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31653/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 96: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department's policy is sufficiently sensitive to the need of locally based art groups, musical societies or others involved in local productions; if he will make changes to the criteria for qualifications of grant applications from community based groups involved in local productions with a view to ensuring a greater possibility of qualification thereby addressing a particular need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31846/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 97: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his policy proposals to promote the arts at community level with particular reference to the capital requirements of such groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31847/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 98: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which he might be prepared to provide grant assistance to community based theatrical groups and musical societies involved in local productions with particular reference to areas where there is a dearth of such facilities in both urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31848/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 96 to 98, inclusive, together.

Government Policy on the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and will be elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2008 – 2010 which is currently being developed. The objective is to encourage and support the strategic development of the arts in local communities, both geographic and communities of interest, for the disadvantaged and for minority groups.

In this regard, my Department has taken a direct role in relation to the provision of grant-aid for the arts and culture infrastructure throughout the country and has provided substantial funding for the capital development of facilities in all regions in recent years, having regard to factors such as sustainability and community requirements.

The main vehicle for such capital funding is the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS), under which over €75 million has been granted to 107 arts and cultural facilities to date, since the scheme commenced in 2001. The ACCESS scheme is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved participation in the arts for large numbers of people nationwide. The scheme has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural spaces.

When applications for funding under the next round of the ACCESS scheme are invited through advertisements in the national newspapers it will be open to any group to make an application, should they have a project that complies with the terms of the programme.