Erin McGreehan
Ceist:164. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the funding that his Department has made available for art centres in County Louth. [16780/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 3 March 2026
Ceisteanna (164)
Freagraí scríofa
As outlined in the Programme for Government, the Government believes that culture and the arts are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. My Department is taking a number of steps to improve, increase and widen access to the arts.
A network of cultural infrastructure exists throughout the country, with the majority in the ownership of local authorities. Annual support, including programming and revenue supports, is provided to this arts and culture infrastructure by local authorities and the Arts Council. I am informed that in Co Louth in 2025, the Arts Council made grants under its Arts Centre funding scheme totaling €440,000 to Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda and An Táin in Dundalk.
My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist development and to maintain these arts and cultural facilities.
Arts capital funding that has been made available to art centres in County Louth in recent years includes:
• Carlingford Heritage Centre received €20,000 under the Arts & Culture Capital Scheme in 2017
• Oriel Cultural Centre CCE received €24,598 under both the Arts & Culture Capital Scheme in 2017 and the Cultural Capital Scheme in 2020.
• Droichead Arts Centre received €79,306 under the Cultural Capital Scheme Streams D and B in 2020 and 2021.
• An Táin Arts Centre received €9,067 under both the Arts & Culture Capital Scheme in 2017 and the Cultural Capital Scheme in 2020.
• Louth County Council also received €72,929 on behalf of An Táin Arts Centre in 2021 under the Cultural Capital Scheme Stream B.
In Budget 2026, my Department was allocated €6m for a new programme of capital funding for arts and culture organisations across the country, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. This will see much needed capital supports for arts and culture organisations being made available for arts centres throughout the country, including Louth. My Department is in the process of designing the specifications of the scheme, including the setting of eligibility criteria.
I have asked the Arts Council to contact the Deputy directly with more information and further details in relation to funding they have made available for art centres in County Louth. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from them within ten working days.