Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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65. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the arts funding provided to groups in County Meath in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11465/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based initiative within my Department designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. In 2022, Creative Ireland supported the delivery of over 40 creative projects throughout County Meath. In 2022, I allocated over €153,000 (including a contribution from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage - €32,258) to Meath County Council under Creative Communities to support their programming and delivery of creative initiatives as part of their implementation of their Culture and Creativity Strategy. A further €31,000 was allocated to Meath County Council to support the delivery of Cruinniú na nÓg on 11th June 2022 – the national day of free creative activities for children and young people under 18 years, at local level.

In partnership with Age Friendly Ireland, I allocated €174,000 to support initiatives in support of creative engagement for older people’s health and wellbeing. As part of the Creativity in Older Age scheme 2022, I allocated €49,000 to creative projects in Meath that will enhance the health and wellbeing of Ireland’s older people as they emerged from the pandemic.

The Creative Communities Economic Action Fund provides local authorities with the resources to develop innovative projects which seek to leverage the potential of the creative industries in supporting local and regional economic development, the Harnessing Culture, Connecting the Dots project in Kells was allocated over €74,000. This project will enable the Kells Printing Works and Centre of Typography, the Courthouse Cultural Hub and other stakeholders to establish a learning centre based on letterpress printing for third-level students, the print industry and tourists. More information of these and other events is available on the Creative Ireland website www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/meath/

In 2022, I allocated €10m to the Local Live Performance Programming scheme (LLPPS Phase 3 &4) to facilitate programming of live performances from January to Halloween, animating town centres for local communities. This allowed for the procurement by local authorities of performances by local performers. Meath County Council participated in both phases of this scheme in 2022 and received funding of €263,600 towards programming costs.

Under the Outdoor Public Space Scheme 2021, Meath County Councilwas awarded €250,000 towards a project to install a moveable cover over the public space outside Solstice Arts Centre in Navan., providing a new and unique outdoor performance space.

Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland with record €130m annual funding for the Arts Council now in place for the third year running. The Arts Council decisions database gives a listing of 2008-2022 funding decisions. This can be interrogated by location and is available at the following link https://www.artscouncil.ie/funding-decisions/. Funding decisions are also routinely published in the Arts Council newsletter, and historical decisions are recorded in the Arts Council's annual reports which are also available online.

Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres used by the artistic communities was initiated and funded by local authorities. My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist and maintain these arts and cultural facilities including those located in County Meath. Funding is administered through applications received for specific Grant Schemes. Also supported annually under this subhead are smaller capital schemes. The Music Capital Scheme is managed by Music Network and funds the purchase of musical instruments by professional and amateur individuals and groups. Details of all capital funding is provided on my Department's website showing the grantee and the annual amounts paid by county ach year. www.gov.ie/en/publication/b1eab-creative-arts-grants-and-funding-previous-schemes/#cultural-development-expenditure.

My Department also operates a number of annual schemes for local and regional museums and festivals around the country which include

-The Co-operation with Northern Ireland Funding Scheme.

-The Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme

-The Mobility of Collections Scheme

-The Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme

Details of these funding initiatives including the 2022 allocations can be viewed at the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/f2ed0-culture-grants-and-funding/

My Department also provides 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.

As Minister with responsibility for leading the co-ordination of the Decade of Centenaries Programme, I allocated funding in 2022 to support the commemorative programme to deliver rich and diverse national and local programmes marking the significant centenaries arising in 2022. Many of these investment programmes are delivered through the local authorities including Meath and further details can be viewed at this link www.decadeofcentenaries.com/local-authorities/