Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

464. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the basis on which music generation and ETB music services are funded; the means by which their ongoing costs met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51573/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

465. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether her Department has assessed the funding model of music generation and educational training board music services for compliance with EU State-aid and competition law. [51574/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

466. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether there are plans to include independent/private schools in future funding or subsidy schemes in music education. [51575/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 464, 465 and 466 together.

My Department is committed to supporting the provision of non-mainstream music education for children and young people in a sustainable and inclusive way. This is done mainly through annual allocations to support Music Generation and schools of music within four Education and Training Boards. There are no plans to extend Exchequer funding for non-mainstream music education to independent or private schools.

Since 2014, my Department has provided annual funding to Music Generation to support the provision of performance music education to children and young people. Music Generation is a national programme that aims to transform the lives of children and young people through access to high quality performance music education in their locality. It is established as a Designated Activity Company and is a charity which adheres to the Charities Regulator’s Charities Code of Governance. Music Generation is delivered through 29 Local Music Education Partnerships (LMEPs) around the country, which provide vocal and instrumental music tuition for young people. Education and Training Boards are lead partners, and employ a Music Development Officer and an administrator.

In December 2017, as part of the Creative Youth Plan, Government announced its commitment to support the roll-out of Music Generation nationwide by 2022. The commitment to funding Music Generation was continued in the successor Creative Youth Plan of 2023-2027, and is also reflected in the Programme for Government.

In 2025, funding of €6.98m was provided to Music Generation. As well as funding delivery of services by the LMEPs, and ETB staffing, the funding supports central leadership and quality support and development. From the allocation, each LMEP receives DEY funding of €200,000 annually through their ETB, and is expected to raise matching funding locally. In 2022, an independent review of the funding and operational model of Music Generation was commissioned by my Department, which continues to work cooperatively with Music Generation in regard to the recommendations from the review.

Separately, schools of music within four ETBs have been funded by my Department for many years, under a long-standing mechanism to support specific objectives called Cooperation Hours. Through this mechanism, 68,781 teaching hours have been funded annually. The schools of music deliver a wide range of programmes and special projects for further development of talented young musicians.

In addition, the Non-mainstream Music Education Bursary Scheme annually supports established, smaller-scale, non-mainstream music education or community music initiatives with limited or no access to other forms of public funding, through a cash grant. These are used to purchase instruments, other equipment and tuition. In 2025, the bursary totalled €100,000 and was distributed to 37 organisations across the country. Applications open at the beginning of each year for the bursary.

My Department is committed to working closely with Music Generation and the Education and Training Boards to support the continued provision of non-mainstream music education for the benefit of children and young people nationally.