Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am pleased to be able to say that this Government has done more than any other Government in our history to support culture, the arts, artists and creatives. The levels of funding we've provided, the breadth of our stakeholder consultations and our response to the needs of the sector demonstrate the Government's understanding of the contribution arts and culture make to enhancing all of our lives.

My Department’s Arts and Culture programme aims to promote and develop Ireland’s world class artistic and creative strengths at home and abroad, maximising their societal and economic value for the country. Since 2020,

• funding for the Culture programme in my Department has grown by over 90%
• funding for the Arts Council has grown by 68%
• funding for Screen Ireland has grown by 88%
• funding for Culture Ireland has grown 65%
• we have the new, highly innovative three years €105m Basic Income for the Arts Research Programme
• funding for National Cultural Institutions has increased by over 50%
• we are supporting the provision of new artist workspaces in Dublin City and elsewhere.

In the context of capital spending the National Planning Framework recognises cultural heritage infrastructure as an essential component for sustainable, attractive and liveable cities, towns, villages and rural area.

In this context, the National Cultural Institutions Capital Investment Programme is enhancing our cultural infrastructure.

There are also important funding schemes for other cultural regional infrastructure as well as continued increased investment in Screen Ireland. Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres used by the professional arts were initiated and funded by local authorities. This network receives ongoing support from the Arts Council with capital spending provided through my Department.

In addition, the all-of-government Creative Ireland Programme 2023-2027, led by my Department, seeks to enable each citizen to realise their full creative potential. In conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, over €37 million has been provided to local authorities from 2018 to 2023 to the 31 local authorities to empower and support community-led participation with €7.5 million allocated for 2024. In implementing their respective 5-year culture and creativity strategies, many local authorities have utilised their funding allocation to promote the expansion and appreciation of the arts in their local area.

My Department and its agencies provide significant support for artistic, creative and cultural activity in Cork County.

Since 2018, under the Creative Communities pillar of the Creative Ireland Programme, I have allocated funding to support the delivery of hundreds of creative projects throughout the county of Cork and details of these can be accessed at the following link

An allocation of up to €30,000 was provided to each local authority to support the delivery of Cruinniú na nÓg on 15th June 2024 – the national day of free creative activities for children and young people 18 years and under, at local level.

Through Creative Ireland's Health and Wellbeing Pillar, Cork County Council in partnership with Kerry County Council is delivering the project "Make or Break", a creative wellbeing programme of events over lunchtime in workplaces in Cork and Kerry.

My Department runs the Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme annually. The Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of funding support from the Government and other State Agencies. Further detail of this scheme can be accessed on my Departments website at the following link .

The Arts Council also provides financial support to a range of festivals, large and small, both single art form and multidisciplinary arts festivals. Strategic Funding supports organisations which are critical to the national arts infrastructure while the Festivals Investment Scheme is specifically designed to offer support to local/voluntary organisations to develop arts festivals. Further information of these festival programmes can be accessed at this link .

Capital funding of €6m is being made available from my Department to local authorities to meet the Government’s commitment under the Programme for Government to increase the provision of affordable workspaces for artists and creative practitioners. The scheme relies on local authorities proposing capital projects for artist workspaces that are fit for purpose, design focused, accessible and affordable. Capital grants ranging from €150,000 to €300,000 are available to individual local authorities including Cork County.

Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres used by the professional arts were initiated and funded by local authorities. The network of venues and arts centres established receive ongoing funding for programming from the Arts Council. My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding for arts and cultural facilities.

Arts Centres in receipt of capital funding from my Department in Cork County includes funding of €600,000 awarded to Cork County Council, towards rebuilding the of Briery Gap Theatre & Library, Macroom Co Cork after it was destroyed by fire and at present €317,000 of this remains available to Cork County Council. In 2014, the Department awarded a grant of €1.5m towards the West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen.

Capital funding of €12,262 was awarded to Banteer Old School Heritage and Drama Trust (T/A Glen Theatre) and €2,200) to Conna Community Council under the Arts & Culture Capital Scheme, 2017 operated by my Department.

Details of this cultural development expenditure are published on my Department’s website at the following link

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