Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1106. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will designate Sliabh Luachra, Castleisland, Gneeveguilla, Kilcummin, Spa, Glenflesk, Killarney, County Kerry as a protected area of culture and arts for traditional music, dance, storytelling, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19722/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am, of course, aware of the strong cultural heritage that is evident throughout Sliabh Luachra and surrounding areas in Counties Kerry and Cork and which extends of course to my own county of Limerick.

As outlined in the Programme for Government, the Government believes that culture and the arts are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. Ireland is world renowned for our rich, diverse and vibrant arts sector.

There has been significant increases in support for arts and culture, including the traditional arts, in recent years. For example, annual funding is provided by my Department to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for its work in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture. Funding is also provided to the Music Capital Scheme which is managed by Music Network and provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments for non-professional performing groups/ensembles and professional musicians.

More broadly, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for stimulating public interest, promoting the practice and improving standards in the arts in Ireland. In 2025, funding for the Arts Council has reached a record level of €140 million.

Unfortunately in regard to the specific matter raised by the Deputy, I have no such powers to make the proposed designation.

My Department does have a role in relation to the recognition of living cultural heritage practices as set out in the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). Ireland’s obligations under the 2003 Convention include establishing a National Inventory for Intangible Cultural Heritage to help protect, promote and celebrate Irish living cultural heritage practices, customs, crafts and traditions.

At present, there are 42 practices inscribed on Ireland’s National Inventory of ICH. The list includes Irish Traditional Music, set-dancing and a number of related cultural practices. A full list of inscriptions can is available at nationalinventoryich.tcagsm.gov.ie. The Department accepts Expressions of Interest from practitioners for cultural practices to be added to the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage on an ongoing basis, with the goals of acknowledging, safeguarding and promoting Ireland’s living culture through official State recognition. These are assessed by an expert advisory committee who submit recommendations as appropriate to the Department for approval by the Minister.

The Department also works with UNESCO to achieve recognition of Ireland’s ICH internationally. Successful applicants to the National Inventory may also consider seeking nomination by the State for inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, to which the State is entitled to make a maximum of one nomination every year. At present Ireland has 5 Irish practices on the UNESCO Representative list of ICH: Uilleann Piping, Hurling, Harping, Falconry and Dry Stone Construction. By achieving international recognition of these practices, their safeguarding is supported for future generations. It should be noted that, per UNESCO guidelines, only cultural practices already inscribed on a national inventory can be put forward for recognition on the UNESCO Representative List of ICH.