143. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he is concerned by the lack of space for arts and culture in Dublin city centre; the efforts, if any, and his plans to support a space for arts and culture in the area in light of recent developments affecting The Complex venue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4121/26]

Sentiment score: 0.25

It is concerning that there is no strategy for the arts spaces infrastructure and that we do not have an arts capital fund such as the sports capital fund and at that scale to address what is happening around the country, not just in Dublin, where large and small arts venues are closing. Many of those arts centres are in buildings that are semi-derelict or in precarious rental agreements. When the money comes for development of apartments or the like they are the first to go. Given our reputation as a country that supports the arts, it is important to not just depend on local authorities but to go beyond that. The State has to step up to increase the funding available to venues such as The Complex, which hosted quite a lot of artists over the years. It was open for 18 years and had music, art and theatre under the one roof. It was an eclectic place to be in and I encourage the Minister to look again not just at The Complex but at the strategy around arts infrastructure.

Sentiment score: 0.18

I will not get into the finances of Dublin City Council and the problem that most of the funding that is meant to go to Dublin City Council sometimes does not end in Dublin City Council especially when you take into consideration the property tax that disappears out of Dublin. Having said that, I was not necessarily asking that at this stage that the Department purchase The Complex. However, there is a need that a greater fund be available, not just for Dublin City Council, but also for Galway council. There are other areas around the country that have identified sites. Dublin City Council will reluctantly take on buildings. It has a good strategy, but most of the buildings that have been offered to it require a substantial amount of investment to bring them up to modern standards. That is one of the problems with Dublin City Council. I know well the buildings the Minister is talking about in the Digital Hub. I know the costs to bring them up to a modern standard. They have been used up to recently by the National College of Art and Design. It would satisfy one part of what The Complex is doing but not all of it and it is not the only venue that closed in this city in the past couple of years.

Sentiment score: 0.01

It has not reduced it this year.

Sentiment score: 0.00

It is going from the Government.

Sentiment score: 0.00

I was never a Dublin city councillor.

Sentiment score: 0.00