I support Deputy Butterly on this. The Minister might update us. We had a regional film uplift fund in the past but, as a result of issues relating to EU supports, that could not continue. He will certainly be aware that, when filming has to take place outside of Dublin and Wicklow, crews have to travel and there is a cost to that. He has outlined the success we have seen with filming right around the country. He will also be aware that there are plans to develop Tara Studios, just outside Gorey in north Wexford. He will also know about the success of Troy Studios in Limerick and the filming that has happened there. As Deputy Butterly said, there are many locations right around the country where regional film, television and animations uplift supports is critical.
Sentiment score: 0.30
18. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on the planned arts capital programme promised in the programme for Government. [64150/25]
Sentiment score: 0.12
I applaud the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach's efficiency in the Chair. I thank the Minister for taking this question. It concerns the proposal in the programme for Government to develop an arts capital scheme. Will the Minister provide us with an update?
Sentiment score: 0.26
The sports capital programme has been incredibly successful at providing support for sport within our communities. I welcome the Government's continued commitment but we have not placed the same level of investment in arts and cultural facilities in our organisations. I appreciate the point about stream E but, as the Minister pointed out, the maximum grant available is €50,000. In a capital programme, that is not a huge sum. I am thinking of a number of places in my constituency, including Gorey Little Theatre, KMH in Kilmuckridge, St. Brigid's Hall in Carnew and Tinahely's Courthouse Arts Centre. Arklow, for instance, does not have a dedicated arts centre. That sum will not go very far towards that. In the same way as we have a sports capital fund that works successfully, we should introduce an arts capital fund. It is a clear commitment in the programme. I know the Minister is supportive of it but we need to roll it out as quickly as possible.
Sentiment score: 0.26
I welcome that. Will the Minister outline a rough timeline for that? He talks of local authorities but not all venues are local authority-run or have local authority input. Many venues for amateur drama or the arts are run on a community or voluntary basis. It is about the process of application and capacity-building in the sector. Does the local authority have to be involved? I appreciate the scheme is not fully designed but will the Minister outline his intentions in that regard?
Sentiment score: 0.12