Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding can be provided for a small events venue in Cahersiveen, in conjunction with the Cahersiveen town regeneration project that is due to go ahead there shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22735/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Proposals for the development of new local arts centres are a matter in the first instance for the local authority.

County and city development plans, including for the arts sector, are drawn up by local authorities in accordance with their functions under the Planning and Development Acts. Much of the existing nationwide infrastructure of arts venues and centres was initiated and funded by local authorities. They are eligible for annual programming funding from the Arts Council.

My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist and maintain these arts and cultural facilities. Under Stream E of the Cultural Capital Scheme grants of up to €20,000 are available at 85% grant funding rate. Local authority owned facilities are subject to a maximum 60% grant funding rate.

Larger grants of up to €50,000 are provided at a maximum grant funding rate of 70%, or 60% for local authority owned facilities.

As part of the Programme for Government, the Government has also committed to examining the feasibility of a minor capital works grant scheme to support arts and cultural facilities that are not funded through The Arts Council. My Department will commence work on this examination shortly.

Another area of funding which may be relevant is the pilot Artist Workspaces Scheme. This was launched by my Department in June 2024 with a total fund of €6 million to enable local authorities increase the provision of Artist Workspaces across Ireland. Capital grants up to a maximum of €300,000 may be made available to larger urban local authorities, with grants up to a maximum of €150,000 being made available to the remaining local authorities, including Kerry. The maximum grant available will be 60% of the eligible costs.

Finally, in the context of regeneration, local authorities can look to a range of schemes across Government which may be of relevance. Regarding the particular proposal in Cahersiveen, Kerry County Council may wish to contact my Department to outline any proposals they have and my Department would be happy to advise on the detail of the support which my Department provides.