Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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256. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her attention has been drawn to the requirement of theatres in all areas throughout the country with the view to ensuring locations in which local community groups can become involved in staging productions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48258/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Arts and Culture Capital scheme 2016-2018 which I announced in 2016 is focused on the refurbishment and enhancement of the existing stock of arts and culture facilities including theatres throughout the country. This scheme is running from 2016 to 2018 over three complementary grant streams. Grant funding of between €20,000 and €2m is being offered to projects on a matched funding basis with a maximum of between 50%-70% provided by the Department. Stream 3 in particular focused on community and voluntary groups many of which received grants under the scheme.

To date, funding of €10.1m has been allocated to 122 projects under the 3 streams.

This is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and is targeting investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces spread throughout the country.