Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which she envisages delivering a cross-governmental promise in view of the recent budget 2018 announcements, further to Creative Ireland's launch commitment to put culture and creativity at the heart of public policy; and if a more detailed plan will be outlined in relation to the delivery of the five existing pillars of the programme. [47676/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On 8 December 2016, the Creative Ireland Programme was launched as the Government's Legacy Programme arising out of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach.

The Creative Ireland Programme is a high level, high ambition, 5-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022 (building up to the centenary of the foundation of the State) which aims to place creativity at the centre of public policy. The programme is being led by my Department in partnership with other Government Departments and Agencies, local authorities, the third level sector, arts and culture organisations (including the National Cultural Institutions), media organisations and relevant NGOs. The launch document for the programme outlines five specific pillars:

1. Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child

2. Enabling Creativity in Every Community

3. Investing in our Creative and Cultural Infrastructure

4. Ireland as a centre of Excellence in Media Production

5. Unifying our Global reputation

There has been significant progress in relation to the delivery of the actions under each pillar, all of which involved considerable inter-departmental and inter-agency collaboration, in particular with the Departments of Education and Skills, Children and Youth Affairs and Social Protection, the Arts Council, all the local authorities and the National Cultural Institutions.

My Department, together with its other partners, is now in the process of drawing up plans to further the implementation of the Creative Ireland Programme for 2018 and beyond in respect of the five pillars of the programme, working collaboratively with colleagues across Government and in the sector.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the widespread concern in the arts community regarding the process by which Creative Ireland funding is allocated and the perceived lack of transparency in relation to this issue; and if a clearer process will be communicated to the arts community and wider public. [47677/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Creative Ireland Programme is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. It aims to put creativity at the centre of public policy. 

The Programme embraces the whole cultural sector, bringing together all those involved in the arts, film, broadcasting, visual arts, cultural heritage, the Irish language and Gaeltacht, with Government Departments and State agencies.

In Budget 2017, I secured €5 m to commence the implementation of the Creative Ireland programme, further details of which are available on . Implementation of the Programme is underpinned by three essential operating principles -  collaboration and communication, community empowerment and internationalisation. 

The Programme is not a funding body and as such does not administer any grant or funding schemes. However, my Department, in order to communicate the vision and values that underpin the Creative Ireland Programme, has taken the opportunity in this, its initial year, to collaborate with several key cultural partners at various important events and festivals nationwide. This partnership approach has encouraged deeper understanding and appreciation of both the Programme itself and the role of the creative arts in our society. 

In addition, in order to enable community empowerment, my Department allocated a sum of €1 m to the local authorities to enable them to develop Culture and Creativity Action Plans and an associated programme of events and initiatives in each county. This was bolstered by an additional €1 m from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. 

Furthermore, considerable resources were devoted to promoting the Programme and its vision to an international audience both online and through specifically commissioned media content, which has allowed us to articulate our values and our unique culture on the world stage. 

It is important to note that the delivery of the Programme, while under the aegis of my Department, will primarily be through, and in collaboration with existing agencies, the Arts Council, Irish Film Board, Government Departments, local authorities, cultural institutions, and other cultural partners, and does not seek to supplant any existing funding mechanisms or schemes or influence art funding decisions.