Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the high-level, independently chaired strategy committee established to consider the recommendations of the National Economic and Social Forum's report on the arts, cultural inclusion and social cohesion has reported back to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10834/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the report by the National Economic and Social Forum, entitled In the Frame or Out of the Picture; his further views on the principal finding that people with lower educational attainment, social class and income are many times less likely than fellow citizens to attend a range of arts events; the steps his Department has taken or proposes to take to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10990/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 112 together.

The National Economic and Social Forum (NESF), The Arts, Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion report outlines priorities in addressing the complex and multifaceted nature of the arts and culture sector and the need for an equitable and socially inclusive delivery of a high level service in a strategic, appropriate, coordinated and open manner. This report's findings have been further analysed in a recent study commissioned from the ESRI by the NESF namely "In the Frame or Out of the Picture?" a Statistical Analysis of Public Involvement in the Arts, undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute on behalf of the National Economic and Social Forum dealing with Public Involvement in the Arts. The study contains much detailed statistics, the implications of which require serious analysis and consideration.

Accordingly, I intend to ask the relevant agencies and institutions within the remit of my Department to study this report, to comment on its findings, and to make recommendations to me on how they can respond to its findings. The Government's decision to establish a high-level independently chaired Strategy Committee to consider its recommendations will be implemented soon. I am finalising at present, the formation of this committee, bearing in mind the complex recommendations contained in the NESF report, and the findings also of the report late last month from the NESF — "In the Frame or Out of the Picture — a Statistical Analysis of Public Involvement in the Arts", referred to earlier.