Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to increase awareness of the value and benefit of cultural activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36581/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The arts, culture and creative sectors are important for the social, cultural and educative benefits that they bring to communities, large and small, around the country. They are an essential part of the narrative about the character of a new, different, changed and better Ireland. Indeed, I believe that dynamism in the arts and culture in turn leads to dynamism in a nation.

Part of my brief as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is to increase awareness of the value and benefit of cultural activities. I have already met the Minister for Education and Skills to discuss a range of ideas which are being further elaborated on by both Departments. The main aim of these proposals will be to increase engagement with the arts from the community up, with particular reference to young people.

The national cultural institutions, which operate under the aegis of my Department, also play an important role in increasing awareness of the value and benefit of cultural activities. In excess of 3.5 million people visited our cultural institutions in 2010, an increase of 7% on 2009 figures. The quality and diversity of the cultural exhibits and events on offer at our museums and galleries plays a key role in attracting such significant visitor numbers, and each has significant education and community programmes which are designed to create access to the institutions for all sectors of the public.

My Department also supports the annual Culture Night initiative which has been such a spectacular success since its inception in 2006. On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations, including the national cultural institutions, extend their opening hours to allow for increased access. Indeed, one of our specific commitments in the Programme for Government is to expand the Culture Night concept and I have already set the wheels in motion in relation to this.

My Department also provides a range of funding to other cultural institutions and regional and local museums throughout the country, which support our high-level goal in relation to enhancing access to the arts, culture and film sectors and recognising the social and economic role of these sectors in Ireland. Examples of bodies funded in this way are the Hunt Museum, Archbishop Marsh's Library and Foynes Flying Boat Museum.

Question No. 13 answered with Question No. 7.