Culture Policy
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-11
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Jerry Buttimer (FG), Cork South-Central

I hear what the Deputies are saying and will bring their contributions back to the Minister and the Department. It is fair to say that the Minister is supportive of investment in physical infrastructure for cultural and arts venues at a regional level and in regional locations to ensure support for vibrant local cultural life with high-quality programming. The Department has an extensive grant programme as a contribution to maintaining and enhancing arts and culture. However, as Deputy Sherlock heard this morning, it does not provide funding for the purchase of buildings. Perhaps that is a matter that needs to be considered in the wider context.
The Minister strengthened funding for arts capital in the budget and a €6 million allocation has been made available for a new funding programme for arts and cultural centres that he plans to launch next year. As previously stated, the Minister is acutely aware of the pressure that artists and creatives face in finding suitable workspaces, in particular here in our capital city. I agree that the lack of space has been a significant barrier and is a source of frustration as it limits the ability to create and exhibit work, in particular. The Department has two schemes to support local authorities across the country to provide for additional capacity and availability of artists' workspaces in the regions on a sustainable basis. In this instance, I am informed that the Department is not in a position to provide funding for the purchase of the property that has been mentioned. It is important, as Deputy Boyd Barrett said, that arising from tonight's meeting there is ongoing negotiation and consultation. I will bring the Deputies' views back to the Department and I thank them for raising the matter.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-11/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-11