Written answers

Tuesday, 27 January 2009

Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism

Arts Funding

9:00 pm

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 822: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to support training and professional development for the performing arts by creating, enhancing and extending modules of in-service training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47803/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 823: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to support measures that are child centred in arts and cultural programmes and develop and enhance child centred policies that impact throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47804/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 824: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to increase funding to the Arts Council for education initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47805/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 825: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to promote an appreciation of and engagement in arts and culture from early education through to all education levels through the implementation of a national comprehensive strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47806/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 826: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47807/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 827: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to encourage, promote and foster volunteerism in the arts, drawing on the successful development of volunteerism in sports here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47808/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 828: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to ensure that arts venues are adequately funded to facilitate activities and to maximise community use and accessibility for all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47809/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 829: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to encourage partnerships between local authorities, central Government, relevant local community groups and the Arts Council with a view to funding arts locally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47810/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 830: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to develop a new policy to create and sustain employment in the arts, particularly arts employment that can market, operate and develop the local arts infrastructure here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47811/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 831: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to provide new tax and other incentives aimed at making cultural and educational philanthropy more attractive and to help persons working in the arts to make a decent living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47812/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 832: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to encourage the full participation of the private and corporate sector in supporting the development of the arts infrastructure and arts programmes and services here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47813/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 833: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to continue to support the development of the traditional arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47814/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 834: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to create a new combined cultural visa and work permit that simplifies and speeds up entry by incoming artists and groups to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47815/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 835: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to ensure that dynamic incentives remain available to the film and television sector and develop bilateral agreements to maximise the potential of section 481; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47816/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 836: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to continue the examination of fiscal incentives to encourage investment in the indigenous film industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47817/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 837: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to provide multi-annual funding to the Arts Council that identifies key areas for development, either for organisations, or key strategies in the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47818/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 838: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to ensure that the increased level of arts activity is sustained and developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47819/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 839: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to ensure that cultural institutions here are developed to their highest potential by capital investment in storage, presentation and digitisation of national treasures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47820/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 840: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to digitise the collections of the National Library, the National Gallery, the National Museum and the National Archives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47821/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 841: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to establish a museum of Irish literature in Parnell Square, Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47822/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 842: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to place the National Theatre, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the National Concert Hall on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47823/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 843: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to complete the construction of a new national theatre an a new national concert hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47824/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 844: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to begin a programme to digitise all State papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47825/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 845: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to complete phases two and three of the National Museum and Collins Barracks and complete phases two and three of the National Gallery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47826/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 846: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to establish a national sports museum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47827/08]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 847: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to roll out ACCESS II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47828/08]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 822 to 847, inclusive, together.

I wish to refer the Deputy to my written reply to Question No. 1114 of 24th September 2008 last on this topic and to confirm that progress is being sustained on all projects commensurate with available resources. Updates on the programme are published regularly and my Department's areas of responsibility are updated in that context. The Deputy may wish to note in particular substantive changes in relation to the following items since my previous reply:

Place the National Theatre, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the National Concert Hall on a statutory footing.

Progress to date:

The placement of the National Theatre, the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) and the National Concert Hall on a statutory footing has been overtaken by the decision of the Government on 8 October 2008 to combine IMMA, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Crawford Gallery Cork while retaining their separate identities. This matter is being progressed by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism at present in conjunction with the institutions concerned.

Complete Phases II and III of the National Museum Progress to date:

(i) National Museum: Proposals to facilitate the reopening of the Natural History Museum within a short time span are being considered.

Complete the construction of a new National Concert Hall

Progress to date:

Substantial progress has been made on this project. Three consortia are participating in the competitive dialogue process for the project. It is intended to close the dialogue process and invite the participants to submit tenders by end June 2009. The successful tenderer should be selected by Autumn 2009 and will then apply for planning permission. I look forward to placing a contract for this project following receipt of planning permission.

Capital projects

The opening of the state of the art Wexford Opera House and the opening in Dublin of a new extension to the Gate Theatre and the Irish Chamber Orchestra's new building in Limerick were welcome additions to the store of high quality performance venues along with the ongoing roll-out of the ACCESS II capital programme.

Film Developments

Extension of the Section 481 tax incentive for Film and TV to 2012 with further enhancements due to come on stream from 2009, including an increase in the individual investor limit, for those wishing to invest in film in Ireland, to €50,000 per annum with a 100% relief on that investment.

Digitisation

The digitised records of the 1911 Census returns for Dublin City and County are being made available free of charge on the National Archives Census Website since December 2007. The 1911 returns for Antrim, Down and Kerry were added to the website in December 2008. It is planned that the remainder of the 1911 returns will be published on the website during the spring and summer of 2009, and all of the 1901 returns are due for publication by the end of 2009. The National Library, the National Gallery and the National Museum are independent statutory agencies.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.