Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that my colleague, Minister of State Mansergh spoke recently on this matter in the Seanad. From my perspective, as a former Minister for Education and Science, I can recognise and appreciate the benefits of the widest possible experiences being available to students. Included in these experiences must be interaction with the arts. It was this recognition which prompted the commissioning of a Report from the Arts Council to examine this vital topic.

It should be noted that within the constraints of the existing system, the education and arts sectors co-operate fully to ensure the optimal delivery of services. The artists in schools guidelines issued to schools, which were developed by the Department of Education and Science and the Arts Council working in partnership, are an important resource in informing schools of how best to plan, implement and evaluate partnerships with local artists and organisations which will provide stimulating and interesting learning experiences for children. They encapsulate the vision of arts in education practice which is set out in the points of alignment report.

There can be no argument as to the fact that providing the arts with a higher and more consistent profile at primary and post-primary level can benefit the students concerned significantly with consequent benefits to society. It is important to stress that this applies to all students and not just those recognised as being gifted artistically. Given that, as is the case in sport, the future of the arts resides with our children, we recognise the importance of the exposure of students to the arts at all levels in our education system.

The Arts Council has pursued at all times a policy of engaging with young people, whether through its specific programmes or by its support of organisations specialising in arts in education interventions, such as The Ark and Team in Dublin, and of theatrical groups. This is supplemented too by the Education and Outreach programmes run by all of our National Cultural Institutions and other agencies funded by my Department. It is intended, when resources permit, to revisit the proposed actions in this report.