Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the introduction of a culture card for 16- and 17-year-olds to access theatre, music and art events has been examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52509/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The commitment to examine the introduction of a Culture Card for 16 and 17-year-olds to access theatre, music and art events was among the several initiatives to be progressed over the lifetime of the Government.

Before I examine the introduction of a youth Culture Card and its potential to enhance interest in the arts among young people, my Department will have to undertake an assessment of modalities, scope, and reach for a Youth Card scheme. I understand that the initial steps in this regard commenced in recent weeks.

It is important to ensure that any initiative provides access opportunities for all young people and represents an effective and efficient use of resources. Consideration will be supported with advice from my Department, other relevant Departments, the National Cultural Institutions, and stakeholders in the arts sector.

Research regarding arts and cultural participation among children confirms the benefits to children when they engage in the arts in their early years, and also indicates that patterns of participation in the arts are set from a very young age. My Department actively supports a range of institutions, programmes and initiatives which create opportunities for all ranges of young people around the country to engage with the arts and culture with little or no further participation cost to the public which includes:-

The Arts Council partnering with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) on an Arts in Early learning & Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) pilot. The pilot is being overseen by a steering group made up of representatives from the DCEDIY Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division, the Department of Education Early Years Inspectorate, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), this Department and the Arts Council.

National Library of Ireland provides free online and in-person guided tours of the WB Yeats and Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again exhibitions to both Primary and Secondary School tours. It also offers a limited number of studentships and internships to suitable applicants, partnering with UCD School of Library and Information Studies, the UCD School of History, the Irish Committee of Historical Sciences, and the Heritage Council of Ireland to offer placements that support the NLI’s work across various fields. These programmes allow students to gain hands-on experience, contribute to research, and develop skills that enhance their academic and professional development

The Chester Beatty offers an ongoing and regular programme of creative workshops, with a particular focus on well-being, for teens aged 12-17 years known as Chester Beatty’s Creative Lab for Teens, and is currently working on an Erasmus grant application to work with young people in the Dublin 1 and 7 areas. The proposal is to look at how the museum and heritage sector can address Education for Sustainable Development with young people. The learning resources will be presented at the National Forum on Education for Sustainable Development in October 2025

The National Gallery has an active and engaged youth panel, who connect with many teams within the Gallery, and who create events for young people, by young people. The Youth Panel curated the Gallery’s first Youth Festival in 2024, and the 2025 Youth Festival runs from 29th September to 5th October.

It also has an Education Team which includes a Fellow dedicated to programming for young people, supported by the Apollo Foundation since 2019. In 2024, the Apollo Project engaged with 79,928 young people and their communities via 102 events, activities, and pieces of online content.

Creative Ireland’s Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 aims to embed creativity into the heart of children and young people’s lives. Through a cross-government partnership between this Department, the Department of Education, the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Arts Council, a combined inter-departmental budget allocation of over €10 million in 2025, including an allocation through the Government’s Shared Island initiative, will provide creative opportunities for 0-24 year olds. With a particular focus on ensuring access for children and young people that are seldom heard and at risk of disadvantage, programmes include;

* Cruinniú na nÓg: The annual day of creativity for children and young people up to 18 years of age, took place on 7th June this year in collaboration with all 31 local authorities and 3 strategic partnerships, with all events free to attend. In 2025, over 1000 events took place across the island of Ireland.

I am very conscious that the access provided under official programmes is only part of a wide sphere of activity in the arts. These programmes are complemented by the initiatives on Basic Income for Artists, the availability of exhibition and performance spaces, the provision of art in public spaces, and arts content in the media and on online platforms. Access and exposure to the arts from an early age can establish a lifetime interest and a fulfilling appreciation. I intend to explore the contribution a Youth Culture Card could make to encourage that interest and I would welcome the views of Deputies in that regard.