Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

235. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which jobs continue to be created throughout the arts and heritage sectors given the excellent return for investment per Euro in these areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32684/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

237. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which her Department has continued to support the arts, in all its varied forms, throughout the economic downturn; whether any specific new measures are anticipated in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32686/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

246. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which the arts and heritage sectors continue to attract support from philanthropists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32695/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 237 and 246 together.

The Action Plan for Jobs 2015 was published in January this year and is the fourth in the multi-annual series, which promotes a whole-of-government approach to economic recovery, export growth and job creation. The Action Plan sets out a number of actions in relation to the heritage and arts sectors.

The nature of employment within these sectors encompasses a wide range of activities, from theatre and music to archaeology and tourism, as well as the creative sectors, including audiovisual production.

For example, it is estimated that the audiovisual sector provides 6,000 full-time job equivalents. Last year, 53 feature films were made here. Many of those employed in the industry are graduates. Some 65% of investment in the sector is inward investment. My Department is working with other Government Departments and agencies to examine ways in which further support can be provided to the industry.

Many people in the creative sectors will benefit from the additional funding which my Department is providing for the Decade of Commemorations, in particular the investment in the Ireland 2016 programme. This comprises €4m current and €22m capital funding in 2015. There is also a €2 million allocation directed through the Arts Council for artistic projects. Considerable employment benefits arising from the capital projects under way or being planned. For example, some 200 jobs have been created in the construction stage of the new interpretative centre in the GPO. In addition, some 300 high-level jobs have been created in the construction work on the National Gallery of Ireland as part of a joint project funded by my Department, the OPW and the National Gallery.

The built heritage jobs leverage scheme was a funded by a special €5 million stimulus package in 2014. It was very successful and leveraged a further €10 million in private funding and many projects benefited from it. Funding for the protection of heritage sites and buildings will continue to be provided by my Department in 2015 via a number of schemes, which will be either directly administered or delivered through local authorities or through the Heritage Council.

I am aware of the potential of the creative sector to contribute to sustainable jobs growth and my Department continues to work with other Departments as part of the Government’s overall objectives under the Action Plan for Jobs.

The Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. The Government also appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland and our economy and provides significant support for the arts and film through its funding of the Arts Council and the Film Board, while my Department provides capital supports for the development of arts and cultural infrastructure.

Other financial and policy supports are also provided, for example, through the taxation system. I was particularly pleased that the Government introduced a 25% increase, from €40,000 to €50,000, in the income ceiling for the artists' tax exemption for 2015. This important measure recognises the invaluable contribution which artists make to society.

My Department - through Culture Ireland – plays a major part in promoting Irish arts and music on the world stage. The Arts Council operates the RAISE programme, which seeks to enhance fund-raising skills in arts organisations with a view to reducing the sector’s dependency on funding from the taxpayer and moving it more towards the business sector. My has Department also operated small capital grants schemes, which require to be co-funded from private or philanthropic sources. These initiatives assist the sector in securing philanthropic contributions to the arts in Ireland.

Finally, issues in relation to the arts, film and music are will be of particular relevance in the development of Ireland's first national cultural policy, Culture 2025. My Department has commenced the engagement in a nationwide consultation process on the development of the policy and I look forward to working further with the all interested parties as part of that process.