Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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46. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to address the deficit in affordable artist studio space around the country, in particular in Dublin city; if she will liaise with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to introduce legislation that would support the inclusion of a provision of artistic, creative and cultural space in all new developments, such as 2% in all developments over 200 units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20414/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the issue regarding the provision of affordable studio space, particularly in Dublin as a result of the changing property market.  In general, I would consider that local approaches driven by artists, local arts officers are best suited to respond to the specific local circumstances involved and provide the most effective outcomes. However, my Department is in discussion with the Arts Council, Dublin City Council and the OPW to consider some possible short-term and longer-term approaches to the issue.

In terms of practical responses, I recently announced details of more than €9 million in capital funding for 56 arts and culture centres across the country. Eight of these grants relate to artist studios and creative spaces amounting to a total of €850,000.

As part of the Government’s initiative on the North East Inner City, I also awarded a grant of €35,000 last year to Fire Station Artists' Studios, Buckingham Street, to assist in providing additional studio space in conjunction with Dublin City Council.

I will shortly be announcing a new capital grants Scheme which will provide grants of up to €20,000 to not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and cultural remit. Organisations with artists' studios will also be eligible to apply under this Scheme.

The legislative framework for planning is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. However in general, as I stated above, I would consider it more appropriate for local authorities to determine their own needs rather than mandating strict national quotas which may not be appropriate.

The issue of whether any additional guidance would be of assistance will be kept under review in light of the work which is currently being undertaken by my Department and the Arts Council.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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52. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she expects to be in a position to continue to utilise events of a cultural and heritage nature to promote the national image at home and abroad with particular reference to the need to generate increased interest in such matters amongst young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20397/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department will continue to support a broad range of programmes and initiatives across its remit to promote Ireland’s national image, including under the recently published Creative Ireland Programmeand Action Plan for Rural Development. The Department’s Culture Irelandprogramme in particular will promote Irish culture on the world stage. The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programmelast year facilitated a heightened sense of shared identity and pride of country. Following on from this the Taoiseach and I recently launched the Creative Ireland Programme as the Government's legacy programme – a five year initiative, from 2017 to 2022 which places creativity at the centre of public policy.

This is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. This will focus on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the goodwill and engagement generated by the 2016 commemorative programme.

The core proposition of this programme is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. The programme is based on five pillars:

- Enabling the creative potential of every child

- Enabling creativity in every community

- Investing in our creative and cultural infrastructure

- Establishing Ireland as a centre of excellence in media production

- Unifying our global reputation

I am confident that this programme will be very beneficial in promoting the national image at home and abroad and in increasing interest in cultural and heritage matters amongst young people.