Written answers

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will commit to re-establish Culture Ireland as an independent entity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10193/15]

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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The Culture Ireland Division of my Department promotes Irish arts worldwide, creating and supporting opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. In line with the Critical Review of Culture Ireland undertaken as part of the Public Service Reform Plan in 2012, the functions of Culture Ireland were fully merged into my Department and an Expert Advisory Committee was established with representation from a range of bodies with a shared interest in Ireland’s international promotion, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Tourism Ireland, the IDA and the Ireland Funds, as well as representation from the arts community. The Expert Advisory Committee works with the executive of Culture Ireland to promote Ireland's artists and gain further opportunities worldwide and to maximise the potential of Ireland's creative talent as a motivator for business and tourism interests for Ireland.

I am satisfied that the international promotion of Irish arts through my Department's Culture Ireland Division continues to make significant impact internationally through its regular grant rounds and showcase programme, designed to create new opportunities for Irish artists. Since 2005, Culture Ireland has promoted and supported over 7,500 Irish cultural projects and events worldwide, ranging across music, theatre, dance, literature, film, visual art and architecture. This support has created significant goodwill and influence for Ireland and has helped to contribute to the strength of Ireland's reputation for creative excellence.

Culture Ireland continues to provide critical financial support for Irish artists for events and activities abroad. For many individual artists and companies, it is their international work which helps make a life in the arts sustainable. International presenters also value the support of Culture Ireland, both in terms of showcasing an introduction to new Irish talent, as well as financial support to assist artists' travel.

In 2014, Culture Ireland supported over 300 events, which reached audiences of over 3 million and a further 6 million television viewers. During last year also, Culture Ireland focused on a number of special initiatives, including in particular the hugely successful Ceiliúradhevent in the Royal Albert Hall, which formed part of the State visit by President Higgins to Great Britain. This role in delivering high profile international programmes is a key element of the work of Culture Ireland.

In 2015, I have maintained the level of Culture Ireland's funding, which is a measure of the importance I place on its work. I am confident that it will continue to operate effectively on the international promotion of Irish arts into the future.

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