Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
266. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the status of the arts space construction project on the grounds of a factory (details supplied) in Dublin port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73122/25]
View answerThe Arts Council submitted a Preliminary Business Case to my Department in Q4 2024 in relation to the project referred to in the question. The proposal has been reviewed by the Department in line with the Programme for Government and the Infrastructure Guidelines and in the context of Project Ireland 2040 and other capital demands. Unfortunately, at this time, there is no funding available to fund a project of this size.
I am acutely aware of the pressures that artists and creatives face in finding suitable workspaces. The lack of space has been a significant barrier for artists, limiting their ability to create and exhibit work. That is why in 2023 the Department allocated €3m in funding to Space to Create, an initiative that aims to provide up to sixty artist workspaces in Dublin City, in partnership with Dublin City Council. Work is ongoing with Dublin City Council to deliver the spaces identified under this scheme.
In addition, the Department launched the Artist Workspaces Scheme in June 2024. This is a €6 million pilot capital funding scheme for Local Authorities to increase the provision of artists’ workspaces across Ireland.
The primary focus of this pilot scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to enable them to provide additional capacity and availability of artist workspaces in their regions on a sustainable basis.
Local authorities are invited to propose projects which can accommodate and address the demand for artist workspaces in their regions and produce workspaces that are fit for purpose, design focused and accessible. Capital grants up to a maximum of €300,000 are available to densely populated Local Authority areas, with capital grants up to a maximum of €150,000 available to the remaining Local Authorities.
