Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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430. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has liaised with the Minister for Education and Skills on the development of contemporary art education at primary and secondary level in Irish schools. [37074/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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While the provision for arts in the education system is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills, I am firmly committed to continuing the work of the ongoing partnership between that Department, my own Department and the Arts Council, in line with the Arts in Education Charter. In this regard, I am pleased that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the continued implementation of the Arts in Education Charter. The development of Ireland’s first national culture policy - Éire Ildánach/Culture 2025 - will also be relevant in terms of acknowledging the importance of supporting cultural engagement in education.

The work of the two Departments and the Arts Council in implementing the Charter is achieved largely through existing structures, such as education centres and Education and Training Boards. My Department provides some funding to assist with implementation of initiatives of the Charter, which has included the development of the Arts in Education Portal that now serves as an effective key communications and information channel for both education and arts sectors.

In terms of direct support for the arts, this is primarily a matter for the Arts Council operating under the provisions of the Arts Act 2003. The Arts Council’s 10-year strategy places specific emphasis on the need to plan and provide for children and young people. The strategy also commits to working to achieve full implementation of the Arts in Education Charter. The Arts Council contributes funding to a number of organisations to assist in the delivery of Arts in Education projects in schools.

2016 has seen steady progress with the implementation of the Arts in Education Charter, overseen by the High Level Implementation Group chaired by Prof. John Coolahan, I am confident that the foundation has been firmly laid for the roll-out of further initiatives to improve the delivery of contemporary arts in education at all levels over the coming months and year.