Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the full extent to which he expects to utilise the area of arts and heritage to contribute to job creation with particular reference to the need to avail of every means possible in the current economic climate to generate commercial activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16570/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and other bodies or groups under his aegis can assist economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16568/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 31 and 116 together. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has responsibility for the Arts, Heritage, the Irish Language and Islands sectors, which I am confident will play a key role in the context of this country's economic recovery and contribute to job creation over the coming period. Indeed, while the arts, culture and creative sectors are important for the social, cultural and educative benefits that they bring to communities around the country, they also constitute a significant sector of the economy, in terms of both contribution to GNP and to employment. As such, they can make an important contribution to sustainable economic recovery.

Over 3.5 million people visited our National Cultural Institutions and other cultural organisations supported by my Department last year. The priority in 2011 is to ensure that what the National Cultural Institutions offer to the public continues to draw large numbers of visitors, including both tourists from abroad and domestic tourists.

My Department also provides funding towards cultural initiatives aimed at enhancing the cultural tourism product and the provision of employment in the cultural tourism sector. This year, Dublin Contemporary 2011 (DC2011) will be an internationally recognised and acclaimed contemporary art exhibition/event in Dublin and will provide a highlight for cultural tourism in Ireland. My Department continues to support the provision of genealogical research into family histories and encourage roots tourism and I believe that this is an area of huge growth potential which will contribute to job creation and commercial activity.

As Minister with responsibility for heritage, I believe that Ireland's rich heritage can also play a central role in national economic recovery. During my term of office, I will promote the role which Ireland's heritage has to play in making Ireland an attractive destination for sustainable tourism and inward investment, both in terms of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, which operates Ireland's national parks and nature reserves, and in terms of our unique built heritage, which distinguishes us and which make Ireland an attractive tourist location for both visitors and Irish people themselves. While resources are limited, I will look to work creatively across Government and with partner bodies such as the Heritage Council, the Irish Heritage Trust and other heritage interests in delivering high quality heritage protection and promotion.

Finally, the Deputy will be aware that Údarás na Gaeltachta, the State agency responsible for promoting the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht with the overall objective of ensuring that Irish remains the main language of the region, also comes within the remit of my Department. I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work with Údarás over the coming years with a view to creating jobs and supporting commercial activity in the Gaeltacht region.