Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the strategy he has to progress the growing craft industry here. [39198/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Crafts Council of Ireland, funded by my Department through Enterprise Ireland, is the economic development organisation for the crafts industry in Ireland. The Crafts Council's Strategic Plan 2010 – 2012 sets out a challenging programme of activity with its main focus on developing and growing the craft industry in Ireland. The Crafts Council works closely with my Department and other organisations in ensuring that the role of the crafts industry in Ireland as a contributor to economic growth is recognised and supported. In pursuit of the objectives outlined in its Strategic Plan, the Crafts Council engaged and consulted with all the support agencies in January last as part of the Year of Craft 2011 Craft Summit. The outputs from this summit have provided strategic focus for the delivery of the Strategic Plan 2010 – 2012.

Four main strategic objectives have been identified, each with associated areas of focus, together with an operational plan. The four main strategic objectives of the Strategic Plan 2010 – 2012 are as follows:

· Developing the market for Irish Craft;

· Building the next generation of craftmakers;

· Raising awareness of Irish Craft; and

· Strengthening the member organisations of the Crafts Council.

The Crafts Council is committed to developing market opportunities for Irish craft, through two strands of activity - developing market channels and developing craft enterprises. The Council believes that building the next generation of craftmakers through a range of education initiatives is critical to the future of the Irish craft industry and carries out a number of activities in this regard. The Council aims to raise awareness of Irish craft in order to encourage demand for Irish craft products and adopts a focused approach to promoting Irish craft to achieve this objective. The member organisations of the Crafts Council play an important role in enhancing the awareness of Irish craft and the skills of craftmaking and the Council works closely with its member organisations for the overall benefit of Irish craft.

The ongoing implementation of the Council's strategic plan in cooperation with a range of public and private partners in education, enterprise, tourism and culture at local and government level will ensure that the craft sector will continue to grow and provide employment in our economy.