Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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236. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will be able to create a research section within her Department to maintain, continue and co-ordinate the investment in research in the arts sector to ensure continuous ongoing accurate information is available to the arts sector on an ongoing basis. [47796/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Arts Council is the agency through which the Government engages with and funds the arts in Ireland. In 2021, the Arts Council received an historic level of funding of €130m. The Arts Council undertakes significant research into all aspects of the arts in the carrying our of its objectives under the Arts Act 2003and advises me as Minister as is required under the Act.

Since the start of the pandemic the Arts Council has undertaken a number of surveys and research on the pandemic’s impacts on cultural organisations, artists and audiences. The Council has also published a detailed report and analysis of the Arts Council’s response to the Covid-19 crisis in the arts. This report as well as annual reports, research and policy documents can be accessed on the Arts Council's website under its publication and can be accessed at this link www.artscouncil.ie/publications/

My Department has a strategic policy unit which includes members of the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service. The unit provides analysis and evaluation services to divisions within the Department as well as contributing to the overall policy development and research agenda of the Department.