Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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461. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her priorities for capital funding for the arts and cultural institutions over the next five years. [33985/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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High quality infrastructure is critical for a vibrant arts and culture sector and investment in cultural infrastructure underpins social cohesion and supports strong and sustainable economic growth. For example, yesterday I unveiled the plans for the major €10m capital investment plan for the National Library of Ireland’s historic Kildare Street premises. The investment will be delivered as a phased programme of works in partnership with the Office of Public Works. Appropriately this investment programme is called "Reimagining the National Library", and will help transform the Library into a world class facility for the storage and display of our national collection, as well as enabling the Library to develop its capacity as a centre for research, culture, learning and tourism.

The redevelopment is another significant investment by this Government in our National Cultural Institutions, following the opening in June of the magnificently restored historic wings at the National Gallery. Substantial upgrades are also getting underway at the National Concert Hall and the National Archives.

This investment is also complemented by the €9m capital investment scheme in arts and cultural centres which I announced earlier this year.

The quality of our cultural facilities demonstrates in a very tangible way where our societal priorities lie and are crucial in terms of ensuring that Ireland is an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest and I am currently developing a capital investment programme for the culture and heritage sector as committed to under the Creative Ireland Programme.

This programme will set out an overall capital strategy for the cultural and heritage sectors for the years ahead.