Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
268. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the key measures taken to support arts and culture during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73137/25]
View answerThe Department of Culture, Communications and Sport’s Arts and Culture programme aims to support and develop engagement with, and in arts, culture and creativity by individuals and communities thereby enriching lives through cultural and creative activity; to promote Ireland's arts, culture and creativity globally; and to drive a more vibrant and diverse Night-Time Economy.
Some of the key measures taken to support arts and culture during 2025 include:
• Government agreement to a permanent programme based on the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme and the provision of funding in Budget 2026.
• Leading Ireland’s engagement at EU, UNESCO, G20, Expo2025 and other relevant international cultural policy forums in 2025, to ensure international cultural policy influenced in line with Irish positions.
• Arts capital grants of €453,145 were awarded to 14 arts and culture organisations for upgrading and development of their facilities. This funding is provided under Stream E of the Cultural Capital Scheme, a €1.4 million capital investment scheme focused on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country.
• €1.5 million announced for the promotion of Irish culture overseas.
• Grants announced for Small-Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools.
• Plans announced for Shared Island Cultural Co-operation Fund.
• €4.6 million in Creative Ireland grant calls.
• Cruinniú na nÓg 2025 took place with over 1,000 free creative activities for young people.
• In 2025, Culture Ireland marked 20 years of supporting Irish artists and arts organisations in presenting their work on the global stage. With an allocation of €8 million, Culture Ireland provided vital support through the Regular Round Scheme, Showcase Programme, and See Here initiatives.
• National Famine Commemoration took place in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick.
• New local Creative Youth Partnership announced.
• Enhanced tax credit for low-to-medium budget film productions.
• Launch of Ireland’s Representation at the 2025 Venice Biennale.
• €500,000 in funding for music venues showcasing original grassroots performers.
• Funding of just over €1.35 million allocated to 9 Night Time Economy advisors in Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny, Sligo, Longford, Buncrana and Drogheda.
• Screen Ireland invested in Irish creative talent, supporting various projects which included feature films, co-productions, TV dramas, documentaries and animations. In 2025, Screen Ireland ring-fenced some of its €48.858m annual allocation for nationwide development and Irish-language storytelling.
• Announcement of the commencement of the major redevelopment of the Crawford Art Gallery.
Priorities for 2026 include, but are not limited to:
• Delivering a successful EU Presidency, including leading the culture policy agenda under the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Ministerial Council.
• Put in place the successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot.
• Completion of the repository project in the National Archives in 2026.
• Commence redeveloping the National Concert Hall with the Discover Centre project (a music learning and engagement centre) in the old Pathology block.
• Progress the redevelopment of the Crawford Art Gallery.
• A new €6 million capital works scheme will be developed to fund arts capital projects in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, providing support for communities across the country.
• Screen Ireland 2026 allocation increased by €2.1 million to develop new strategies to grow the gaming and special effects sectors in Ireland and for increased support to the indigenous and incoming screen industry.
• An additional allocation of €600,000 to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann who celebrate their 75th Anniversary in 2026.
• €1 million in funding, double the 2025 allocation, for the 2026 round of the Grassroots Music Venue Support scheme to support independent music venues and artists across the country.
• Culture Ireland 2026 allocation increased by €800k, to help develop and sustain Irish artists’ international careers.
