Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider the development of a St. Patrick's fortnight as a two-week programme to celebrate and showcase Irish culture. [21809/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, St. Patrick's Festival is the primary cultural festival during the Spring. The Programme for Government proposed making Culture Night a twice yearly event. Discussions on the most appropriate way to build on the success of the Culture Night event are ongoing. As such there may be scope for the development of an audience-focused cultural initiative as part of these festivities.

The Deputy will appreciate that these discussions must have regard to the resources available to my Department and to the many competing demands on these resources.

It is likely that reduced resources will mean that my priorities will not permit such a wide ranging proposal as put forward by the Deputy.