Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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4. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the dearth of artistic spaces and venues in the city of Dublin; and her plans on same. [22186/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the demand for artist workspaces and cultural spaces that exists in Dublin City.  For this reason a capital allocation of up to €3 million has been made to Dublin City Council specifically to assist in the provision of artists’ workspaces in Dublin. The City Council has been examining a range of sites for their suitability to best capitalise on the €3m investment including two buildings in DCC ownership to create up to  40 new Artists Workspaces. 

Recent decades have seen the development of a nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres, many of which were initiated and funded by local authorities. These centres also benefit from capital schemes operated by my Department. Annual support provided to these arts centres by local authorities and the Arts Council is critical to ensuring that a stable and vibrant network can be maintained. The Arts Council and County and City Management Association (CCMA) have a joint ten year agreement which  is strongly focused on continued investment. 

Capital schemes including the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 and the Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 provides capital grants for arts and culture centres and are administered by my Department.  The schemes focus on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country. These included allocations for projects involving artist's studios and creative spaces. 

My Department is also funding a major €460 million programme of investment in our National Cultural Institutions under the National Development Plan.  These institutions are largely based in Dublin City.   

County and city councils prepare and implement plans for the development of the arts within their functional areas in accordance with Section 6 of the Arts Act 2003 and Section 67 of the Planning and Development Act 2001.  County and city development plans are drawn up by local authorities in accordance with their functions under the Planning and Development Acts.  I understand that the new draft City Development Plan 2022 – 2028 for Dublin City Council proposes addressing the provision  of artists’ workspaces. 

The Department for Housing, Planning, and Local Government operate the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund to support a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns.  I understand there is an allocation to Dublin City Council in respect of Artists Workspaces under this programme