John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the schools selected to participate in the 2025 Creative Schools programme will be announced; whether there will be a similar programme for the 2026-27 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51296/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Creative Schools is one of the flagship initiatives of the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 and supports schools and Youthreach centres to put the arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives. Creative Schools supports schools over 2 years to develop and implement a bespoke Creative Schools plan. It is led by the Arts Council in partnership with my Department and the Department of Education.

The Arts Council will announce the details of the primary, post-primary and special schools, as well as Youth Reach centres who are joining the programme in October. Details of all schools who have participated to date are available on:

- The Arts Council website: artscouncil.ie/funding/funding-decisions/ and

- The Department of Education Creative Youth data map: www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/creative-youth-map/

It is anticipated that Creative Schools will open applications for schools to join the programme for the 2026/27 academic year in Spring 2026.