Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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102. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of funding and future plans her Department has to fund specific projects in arts and heritage for the Traveller community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3079/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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As I detailed in my response to Parliamentary Question 267 of 6th December 2017, my Department's commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion is reflected in its policies and operations, and in those of the bodies under its aegis. My Department is also represented on the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy Steering Group.

One of the stated aims of Culture 2025, this Departments national cultural policy document, is to create opportunities for increased citizen participation, especially for those currently excluded or at risk of exclusion, with a key value being the right of everyone to participate in the cultural life of the nation. This right runs throughout people’s lives, irrespective of where they come from, where they live, their religious beliefs or their economic, social or ethnic backgrounds. In line with these policy objectives, my Department's Creative Ireland programme continues to promote the Traveller Mentoring Program.

With respect to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, the Arts Council in particular arrange supports for work in the context of the Traveller Community under the Arts Participation Scheme and the  Artist in Community Scheme, managed by Create on the Arts Council’s behalf which, actively encourages artists to work in a culturally diverse context including among the Traveller Community. The Irish Film Board has also agreed funding of €620,000 in relation to a film about a young female Traveller, entitled "Float like a Butterfly".

The National Library of Ireland is currently in the development phase of a project which centres on the presentation of materials regarding Traveller family history and genealogy, while the National Museum is planning a major exhibition with the Traveller Community to be hosted in the Museum of Country Life from June 2018. The exhibition will focus on the traditions, customs and history of the Traveller community over the years.

I look forward to working with my Department and those bodies under its aegis in developing these important initiatives.