Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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255. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she directly or indirectly continues to support local and community based groups with a view to generating an interest and appreciation for the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48257/17]

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 which is the centenary of the foundation of the State. Creative Ireland 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 and relevant NGOs. The second pillar of Creative Ireland entitled Enabling Creativity in Every Community is focused on local communities. I am pleased to report that there has been significant progress on Pillar 2. A Culture Team has been established in each of the 31 local authorities and each local authority has produced a 2017 Creative Ireland Plan and is in the process of drawing up a more detailed 2018 Creative Plan setting out a five year plan for local creativity.

In general, funding for the arts is primarily a matter for the Arts Council. In this regard, I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council in Budgets 2017 and 2018. The increase in the Arts Council's allocation over 2017 and 2018 is €8 million and this additional funding will assist the Council greatly in implementing its 10-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025).Based on this strategy the Arts Council has developed a new approach to funding known as Making Great Art Work Funding Framework 2018-2020. The Arts Council has identified five funding categories that will enable it to deliver on its strategic goals. This includes the provision of funding to support local authorities in delivering arts experiences to people across Ireland.

These policy initiatives are supported by significant investment in arts and culture infrastructure. Already this year I announced details of more than €10 million in capital funding to a total of 122 arts organisations around the country under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018. This is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces.