Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 35: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the supports his Department is providing to ensure that national cultural institutions here reach their target of 3 million guests in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10827/08]

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

Substantial increases in current funding, over 11% in some cases, have been secured for the national cultural institutions in 2008. This additional funding allows the institutions to enhance and develop their exhibition and event programmes, so as to attract the widest possible audience.

An element of this additional funding has been specifically targeted at extending the cultural institutions' opening hours, which is an essential innovation in developing access and attracting wider audiences. My Department has been in consultation with the National Cultural Institutions regarding this extended opening hours programme, which will be introduced on a gradual basis and will be the subject of a vigorous marketing campaign for which I am providing funding. In addition, Culture Night 2008 in September will see late opening of the National Cultural Institutions. Culture Night event has proven to be very successful in attracting new visitors to the national cultural institutions.

As the provision of good transport links to the institutions is key to developing access and increasing visitor numbers, I am discussing with the national cultural institutions the possibility of supporting a dedicated bus service this summer, on a pilot basis, linking the national cultural institutions in Dublin, during the extended opening-hours period, at weekends.