Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if there are requirements on groups which have constructed arts venues using funding from the ACCESS one and two schemes to offer their venues for use by the wider community for a certain period of time; if they are required to develop educational links with local community, particularly the youth audience; if this is not the case his views on introducing such a requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33781/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS) is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved access to and 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.

Facilities funded to date include integrated arts centres, theatres, galleries, studio, and creative and performance spaces. In this manner my Department provides the bulk of capital funding for building and refurbishing arts facilities around the country, mainly in the not for profit sector, while the Arts Council provides the ongoing revenue support for many of the facilities.

While there is no specific obligation on arts groups who have received funding under the ACCESS scheme to offer the use of these venues to the wider community and in particular to the local youth community, the criteria in the ACCESS guidelines refers specifically to the extent to which the facility will:

improve and extend access to, or participation in, the arts within the catchment area of the relevant facility:

implement works that will ensure the continued availability of the relevant facility into the future:

To obtain funding under the objectives of the ACCESS scheme applicants for grant aid are required to indicate how their proposed grant aided facility will encourage as wide a range of participation as possible from the local community in all art forms. This would include all age groups. The independent Selection Committee has regard to this and other criteria when making recommendations to the Minister.