Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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73. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of some members of the creative industries regarding Creative Ireland's potential for allowing political control over arts funding decisions; if she has examined the recent experience in Australia regarding the establishment of the national programme for excellence which diverted funding away from its independent arts council in favour of a ministry led organization; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47763/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Creative Ireland Programmeis 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, including those involved in the arts, film, broadcasting, visual arts, cultural heritage, the Irish language and the Gaeltacht, Government Departments and State agencies. The implementation of the Programme is underpinned by three essential operating principles - collaboration and communication, community empowerment and internationalisation.

In Budget 2017, I secured €5m to commence the implementation of the Creative Ireland programme, further details of which are available on .

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 partners, and does not seek to supplant any existing funding schemes or processes, or influence art funding decisions.

To these ends, my Department is working closely with the Arts Council and other key partners across the State and non-State sector to ensure complementarity and to avoid any duplication of efforts. The Creative Ireland Programme is ultimately about building creativity and promoting individual, community and national well-being. As such, the Australian example referred to by the Deputy is not relevant to the Creative Ireland Programme.