Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has assessed the potential for creative industries relocating here as a result of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9463/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this month, I hosted a Sectorial Dialogue on Brexit in Cavan. The participants, who were key stakeholders, were asked, inter alia, to suggest actions that Government or others might take now in the context of Brexit. The dialogue provided an opportunity for me and my officials to hear directly from stakeholders in sectors served by my Department regarding the impact Brexit may have on these sectors, including in relation to arts, culture and the creative industries. The Government’s preparations for Brexit, which are based on consultation, analysis and prioritisation, will incorporate the input from participants at the sectorial dialogues hosted by all Government Departments.

Meanwhile my Department will continue to promote arts, culture, creativity and economic development across its work programme. Recent initiatives include the Creative Ireland Programmeand the Action Plan for Rural Development. These initiatives will take Brexit into account as they are being implemented.

Creative Ireland is a five-year all-of government initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which places creativity at the centre of public policy to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation so that individually and collectively, in our personal lives and in our institutions, we can realise our full creative potential. The programme for year 1 outlines 10 initiatives to be completed by the end of 2017, including 'An industry-wide, long-term plan, for Ireland as a global hub for the production of Film, TV Drama, and Animation' .

I recently announced the commissioning of an economic analysis of our screen-based creative industries by my Department in partnership with the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. This study has commenced and will examine the economic impact and potential of the Irish film, TV and animation sector and analyse the scale and economic contribution of the screen-based creative industries and examine its potential to expand further. The study, when complete, will help to inform Government strategies and initiatives as we seek to enhance Ireland’s reputation as a home of creative talent.

I am keenly aware of the potential of the creative sector to contribute to sustainable jobs growth. My Department continues to work with other Departments, in particular with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation which has responsibility for intellectual property rights, to promote and support Ireland’s cultural and creative sectors.

The Action Plan for Rural Development is the first whole-of-government strategy aimed at people living and working in rural Ireland. It 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. The Plan is spread across five pillars and the fourth pillar is Fostering Culture and Creativity in Rural Communities. 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.