Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and his Department continue to promote the arts through the education system with particular reference to primary and second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4509/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, in January 2013 the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, TD, and I jointly launched the Arts in Education Charter. This Charter places new responsibilities on Government Departments, agencies, cultural institutions and arts organisations in terms of providing and promoting arts education to children and young people.

Both Minister Quinn and I believe passionately in arts education and want to see a joined-up Government approach across Departments, education agencies and arts organisations. The Charter will see organisations like the Arts Council, the National Cultural Institutions, the Colleges of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment working with both Departments in order to bring the arts into the classroom and learners into the institutes for the arts.

A High Level Implementation Group was established to oversee the implementation of the Art in Education Charter, chaired by Professor John Coolahan, Professor Emeritus, NUI Maynooth. The membership includes Orlaith McBride, Director of the Arts Council, Mary Nunan, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Alan Wall, Director, Department of Education and Skills and Niall Ó Donnchú, Assistant Secretary, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The Group has met on a number of occasions and has been proactive in meeting organisations from both the arts and education sectors. Progress is being made on a number of initiatives, including developing a website/portal as a key communications and information channel for both the education and arts sectors. Suitable models for art-rich schools and for artists to become involved in the programme are also being examined by this Group.

In 2012, I announced the introduction of a new philanthropic initiative on a pilot basis for arts and culture organisations. €210,000 was made available to arts organisations under this scheme and last year the initiative was directed towards arts and culture organisations seeking support for projects that included an education component. In 2013 almost €200,000 was made available under that programme.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and his Department continue to promote traditional music and song at various levels and media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4510/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to enhancing our traditional culture by supporting groups and organisations involved in furthering the traditional arts. Since 2005, in excess of €20m has been provided in capital grant aid to organisations that promote traditional music and song, such as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Na Píobairí Uilleann (The Pipers Club), for infrastructural development throughout the State.

My Department provides an annual current grant to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. In 2014, this amounts to €1.448m. Comhaltas has over 400 branches nationwide and has been to the fore in training young people in the traditional arts. The Irish Traditional Music Archive based in Merrion Square which is a wonderful resource for those studying traditional music is also supported by The Arts Council.

Other organisations funded by my Department that encourage and foster the traditional arts of music and singing include the Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge and Ealaín na Gaeltachta. As well as providing educational opportunities for young people these organisations provide funding to the many festivals held in the country every year where thousands of young people participate and are encouraged to develop their artistic talents. My Department also assists An Gael-Acadamh, which provides a range of classes for young people in the Connemara Gaeltacht.

I would especially like to direct the Deputy's attention to Culturefox, an initiative paid for by my Department to promote the arts and culture. Culturefox is both a website and an "app", and has a separate section for the promotion of traditional music and song. It is free to use for promoters and consumers alike.