Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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424. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plans to improve artistic workspace and residency programme opportunities in Meath. [35773/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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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. However, I am conscious of the pressures that artists and creatives face in finding suitable workspaces and the difficulties in the provision of artistic venues.

My Department administers the pilot Artist Workspaces Scheme. This was launched in June 2024 with a total fund of €6 million to enable local authorities increase the provision of artist workspaces across Ireland on a sustainable basis. Under this scheme Local Authorities are invited to propose projects which can accommodate and address the demand for artist workspaces in their regions and produce workspaces that are fit for purpose, design focused and accessible. 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 Meath. The maximum grant available will be 60% of the eligible costs. Full details are available on my Department’s website.

Additionally, a network of cultural infrastructure, such as the Solstice Arts Centre in Navan, exists throughout the country with the majority in the ownership of local authorities. Annual support, including programming and revenue supports, is provided to these arts centres by local authorities and the Arts Council.

My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist development and to maintain these arts and cultural facilities. For example, Meath County Council were awarded €300,000 under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme for an enhancement and refurbishment project at Solstice Arts Centre in 2017. The Centre was also allocated €250,000 through Meath County Council under the Outdoor Public Space Scheme in 2021. This later outdoor project consists of a moveable cover over the public space outside the Centre including large pagodas, civil works, lighting, and two high definition projectors. The project will allow multiple arts and cultural organisations to benefit from having a new weatherproof space to perform and can be used as an additional venue to the Arts Centre.

In terms of other schemes, under Stream E of the Cultural Capital Scheme, grants of up to €20,000 are available to not-for-profit dedicated arts and culture organisations 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 under Stream E at a maximum grant funding rate of 70%, or 60% for local authority owned facilities. Full details are available on my Department’s website.

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. Work in relation to this proposal is underway in my Department at present.

There have also been significant increases in support for arts and culture across the country, including Meath, in recent years. Within my Department, there are a number of measures in place to support the arts at amateur and professional levels including:

• Creative Ireland Programme funding in 2025 is supporting the delivery of a number of creative projects nationwide.
• The pilot capital support scheme for the Night Time Economy will support the development of vibrant late night arts and culture scenes in Irish cities, towns and villages as well as additional capital to assist in the provision of building and equipment needs.
• A small-scale local festivals and summer schools scheme designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools that may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies.
• In 2025 €8m, which is the highest level of funding for Culture Ireland since its establishment, will support more Irish artists to launch and develop their careers on an international stage.
• The Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme which is €105m scheme involving 2,000 artists and creative arts workers nationwide.
• Annual funding provided to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for its work in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture.
• The Music Capital Scheme, managed by Music Network on behalf of my Department, provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups/ensembles and professional musicians.
• Funding for the Safe to Create Programme, including Minding Creative Minds, that supports all artists and creatives across the country.
• Funding programmes within the Broadcasting and Media area also serve to promote many artists and creative talents from across the music sector.