Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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97. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the support schemes she has established for amateur dramatics and musicals, as outlined in the Programme for Government. [24229/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future included the interest to develop innovative support schemes for amateur drama, and musicals. In this context, I appreciated that the Arts Council provided funding to the resource organisations that support the amateur drama and musical societies: for example

• Drama League of Ireland was funded by the Arts Council, €135,000, with support from the Department in 2021, and
• Amateur Drama Council of Ireland was also funded by the Arts Council, €138,000, with support from the Department in 2021.

• identify optimum models of provision of a national network of accessible performance, rehearsal and recording venues for new and emerging artists in a range of specialist music genres and practices, and for community music-making’
• engage proactively with other national, amateur music making organisations to establish supportive partnerships
• avail of the Arts Council–local authorities strategic partnership to develop more strategic funding of local voluntary and amateur music-making

Notwithstanding the official supports described above, it would be appropriate to mention with gratitude the significant number of commercial sponsors who also contribute towards the national associations and annual programmes for amateur drama and musicals. I take this opportunity to acknowledge with thanks their generous support to the national bodies and also to commend the special contribution of the title sponsor of the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone that recently concluded for 2024.