Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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68. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the development of arts centres in rural towns and villages and the benefits this can bring to an area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4184/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Last year I announced a new €9 million investment scheme for arts and cultural centres to run over the next three years, focused on securing and enhancing our arts and culture infrastructure. The scheme will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces.

I hope to make announcements on this scheme very shortly. Many of the projects to be grant-aided will be located in rural Ireland and will support cultural and community life in rural Ireland. This scheme will form part of the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development which is the first whole-of-government strategy aimed at people living and working in rural Ireland.

The Plan aims to unlock the potential of rural Ireland through a framework of supports at national and local level which will ensure that people who live in rural areas have increased opportunities for employment locally, and access to public services and social networks that support a high quality of life.

It contains 276 actions which aim to improve both the economic and social fabric of rural Ireland spread across five pillars.

The fourth pillar of the Action Plan - Fostering Culture and Creativity in Rural Communities incorporates the arts. The key objectives of this Pillar are to:-

- Increase access to the arts and enhance cultural facilities in rural communities.

- Further develop and enhance culture and creativity in rural Ireland through the establishment of culture teams and creativity hubs as part of the Creative Ireland Programme.

- Promote the Irish language as a key resource in Gaeltacht and other rural communities.

I will also shortly be announcing details of a new small capital grant scheme for arts and cultural facilities for not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and cultural remit. This will be of particular benefit to local cultural centres throughout rural Ireland.