Written answers

Tuesday, 28 February 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Arts in Education Charter

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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344. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funds and programmes available for further development of talented young musicians while undergoing second level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3954/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently supports the Music Generation initiative to the value of €2.5m per year, in respect of the 11 local Music Education Partnerships (MEPs) established under Phase 1 of the initiative and which were initially supported through philanthropic funding.

In January 2016, a commitment was given by the Department of Education and Skills, subject to Exchequer resources, to provide further funding to support a second phase of the Music Generation initiative when philanthropic support for the new MEPS established during this phase ends. This commitment will see Exchequer support increase by a further € 2.1m year from 2020.

On  23 January 2017,an open call was announced for Music Education Partnerships to apply for inclusion in Phase 2 of Music Generation. A total of €3m in funding, from philanthropic investment by U2 and The Ireland Fund, is available through this call, which will enable Music Generation’s expansion into new areas of the Republic of Ireland between 2017 and 2021. 

The Department of Education and Skills also established the new Non-mainstream Music Education Bursary Scheme in February 2016. In 2017 the scheme is worth €100,000 and will be launched February. The Purpose of the scheme is to provide support by way of a cash grant to established, smaller-scale, non-mainstream music education/community music initiatives with limited or no access to other forms of public funding.

Co-operation hours are provided to five Education and Training Boards. These include Cork ETB, Limerick Clare ETB, City of Dublin ETB and Galway Roscommon. In many instances these initiatives provide access to non-mainstream music education. In addition in Cork, Limerick, Clare and City of Dublin funding is provided under co-operation hours for Schools of Music programmes for further development of talented young musicians whilst undergoing second level education.

Creative Ireland is the Government’s Legacy Programme for Ireland 2016. It is a five year initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. Devising an integrated implementation plan for arts in education is a priority for Creative Ireland under Pillar 1. The plan – “Creative Children” – will be launched in September 2017. A key objective of Creative Ireland Pillar 1 is that by 2022 every child in Ireland will have access to tuition and participation in other art forms such as art, music, drama and coding. My Department will be a key partner in implementing this objective.

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