Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
482. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress being made in expanding investment in community arts, cultural infrastructure and heritage projects outside major urban centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33397/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA 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 these arts centres by local authorities and the Arts Council.
My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to develop and maintain these arts and culture facilities with significant investment across all regions in recent years including the recent Stream E of the Cultural Capital Scheme, which provided grants of up to €50,000 for capital works and equipment.
Another programme operated by my Department is the €6 million Artist Workspaces Scheme where local authorities outside Dublin City Council are invited to propose projects which enable them to provide additional artist workspaces in their regions on a sustainable basis and produce fit for purpose workspaces.
The significant increases in support for arts and culture across the country also includes annual funding provided to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and the capital support scheme for the Night Time Economy which supports the development of vibrant late night arts and culture scenes in Irish cities, towns and villages.
In Budget 2026, the 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.
A pilot scheme has been under design in recent months and earlier today I updated Government about progress. Subject to receipt of sanction, the scheme will provide necessary funding to arts and culture facilities for equipment, building upgrades and refurbishment works, along with equipment funding to community and voluntary groups for the purpose of increasing arts/culture participation in communities across the country. I intend to launch the pilot scheme in the coming weeks.
Heritage projects are a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
