Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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252. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the lack of artist-run studio spaces and the fact that Ireland lags far behind other European countries in this regard. [40757/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the issue regarding the provision of affordable studio space, particularly as a result of the changing property market. My Department has had discussions with the Arts Council, Dublin City Council and the OPW to consider some possible short-term and longer-term approaches to the issue, both in relation to specific issues in Dublin and to wider national approaches. 

This year I announced details of €10.078 million in capital funding to a total of 122 arts organisations around the country under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018. This allocation included over €900,000 in funding for projects involving artists' studios and creative spaces.

In addition, as part of the Government’s initiative on the North East Inner City, I 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.

The list of successful projects under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 is available on my Department’s website  at the following link .