Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 117: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the key recommendations of the arts and education committee report; the action he will take in reaction to these recommendations; if he has been in consultation with the Department of Education and Science on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4871/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 134: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the report of the arts and education committee will be published in view of the statement from the Department of Education and Science that the publication is a matter for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4755/08]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 134 together.

The publication of the report of the Arts and Education Committee is a matter for the Arts Council, as the Committee's remit was to advise the Council on how best to align the Council's strategies for the promotion and encouragement of the arts with the priorities of the formal education system. Since the Arts Council presented me with a copy of the draft report meetings have been taking place between officials from my Department, the Department of Education and Science and the Arts Council to consider the recommendations of the report. An interagency work group is currently examining the report with a view to identifying ways of implementing and giving effect to the practical recommendations that it contains. The work of this group will inform the response to the report when it is published.