Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the proposals outlined in an article (details supplied); if she intends to give consideration to the proposals outlined therein; and if she will outline her plans to support the development of the Irish traditional music sector. [62571/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am aware of proposals for development of traditional music sector contained in the article referred to by the Deputy. A number of measures are already in place to support this sector and these are referenced in the article. A few proposals come within the remit of other Departments and wider Government

Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland. The Council works under its 10 years Strategy to address its statutory remit through a policy-driven focus on investment, advice, advocacy and partnership including investment in the traditional arts. The traditional arts are seeing positive growth, and this is reinforced by the Arts Council's commitment to the sector. A record €130m annual funding for the Arts Council now in place for the third year running and this level is being retained under the 2023 Budget.

The following Budget measures will go some way in supporting the traditional music sector.

An additional €10 million in 2023 to fund the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme, a 3-year, €105 million scheme involving 2,000 artists and creative arts workers which will support each beneficiary in developing and sustaining a professional arts practice.

€2 million increase in funding for Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide.

Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres were initiated and funded by local authorities including those serving rural areas. My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist and maintain these arts and cultural facilities. Funding is administered through applications received for specific Grant Schemes. Under Budget 2023, I announced €7m in additional capital funding for artists’ spaces and climate adaptation, including a new scheme, details of which will be announced shortly.

Additional supports for stakeholders in the Night Time Economy in the context of the implementation of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report. This is in addition to €4 million in current spending for a range of initiatives and pilot projects to support a more vibrant and diverse Night-Time Economy.

In addition to the above measures my Department continues to provide annual funding to support Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann which is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music both at community and national level. Annual funding is provided to CCÉ for its work in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture.

My Department also supports smaller capital schemes on an annual basis, including the Music Capital Scheme which is managed by Music Network. This provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups/ensembles and professional musicians.

In response to Covid-19, capital funding towards the pilot Outdoor Public Space Scheme 2021 by my Department funds local authorities to adapt, equip or otherwise improve public spaces for cultural and events activities. Outdoor public spaces can provide year-round use can improve well-being and contribute positively to the public realm.

My Department and its agencies fund a wide range of community and national cultural events that include St Patrick’s Festival, Culture Night, Other Voices, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann which in turns helps to sustain the traditional music sector. The Arts Council offers a range of financial supports for festivals. The Council provides financial support to a number of single art form festivals, as well as many multidisciplinary arts festivals across different art forms, including the traditional arts. Its festivals investment scheme, for example, is specifically designed to support local and voluntary organisations to develop arts festivals. Further details can be accessed on the Arts Council's website.

Through collaboration with the local authorities, Fáilte Ireland's regional festival scheme is available to local community festivals. Tourism Ireland is also working closely with many festivals to provide exposure for them in key markets oversea. Culture Night creates good opportunities for music artists. For example, the Arts Council, and RTÉ showcased activities particularly music taking place across the country, with complementary additional content on rte.ie/culture, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ lyric fm, and RTÉ One.

My Department runs a small-scale local festivals and summer schools scheme. The scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other central Government moneys and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies. The maximum funding available under this scheme is capped at €5,000.

Some funding programmes within my Department within the Broadcasting, Gaeltacht and Tourism areas also serve to promote many artists and creative talents from across the music sectors. In wider Government traditional arts are supported to different extents through the Department of Education (music curriculum and Music Generation), the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science (courses provided in educational institutions).

Lastly, my colleague the Minister for Finance announced in the context of Budget 2023 the introduction of a tax relief for the maintenance and repair of uilleann pipes, early Irish harps and Irish lever harps. The relief provides for an income tax disregard of €20,000 on the portion of a soletrader's profits made from the manufacture, maintenance and repair of sets of uilleann pipes and Irish harps (both early Irish harps and Irish lever harps).