Amateur dramatic group funding
Deputy Neville welcomed new funding for amateur dramatic groups and asked when it would be available and how to apply. The Minister confirmed €250,000 is being allocated for the first time in over a decade and said a mechanism, likely with the Drama League of Ireland, should be in place soon.
I welcome the increase in funding for the arts, with particular reference to funding for the first time for amateur dramatic groups, which have taken a particular foothold in rural Ireland. They involve the amalgamation of people in the community involved in amateur dramatic groups. Will the Minister outline when the funding will come on stream and what the application process will be?
Comment on this
The overall budget increase for the culture side of my Department was 2% this year, which is €4 million, bringing the total funding for the area to €193 million. Out of that, for the first time in more than a decade, €250,000 will be allocated to amateur dramatic and musical societies throughout the country. That is very much to be welcomed. We hope to have a mechanism set up, probably in conjunction with the Drama League of Ireland in the coming weeks. I am sure there will be many groups of players in Limerick that will be very interested in this initiative.