Funding for amateur drama
Deputy Byrne calls for support for amateur theatre and musical groups, highlighting their importance in communities such as Wexford. The Taoiseach praises amateur drama as part of Irish culture and says he will raise the issue with the Minister.
The current and previous Governments rightly committed to investment in the arts, including significant increases in funding to the Arts Council and expanding the basic income for the arts scheme. Indeed, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is to proceed with the arts capital programme later this year. I want to raise the question of funding for amateur theatre and musical movements around the country. After the GAA, there are more people involved in amateur theatre and musicals than in any other voluntary activity. In my constituency, the Kilmuckridge Drama Festival recently took place and the South Leinster Drama Festival and the South Wicklow Drama Festival will also open soon. During Covid, we provided funding to those organisations. Can we commit to some sort of regular funding? Will the Taoiseach raise this with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, who I know is aware of the issue? We need to fund those organisations that support amateur theatre and musicals right around the country.
Comment on this
I will indeed, but the Deputy should declare a conflict of interest given his annual performances. I believe he was in the pantomime this year. People will say he is forever in the pantomime in Dáil Éireann and so on, but he is one of the great pantomime performers. Alan Corcoran on the local radio station in Wexford has spoken volumes about the Deputy's genuine acting ability in theatre, and he has been a great participant in amateur drama. Amateur drama is very often the pipeline for future talent to emerge. It is a wonderful part of the Irish story and tradition.
Comment on this
Yes, it is a compliment. Our tradition of storytelling is part of the Irish story and we do it particularly well as a nation and a people. There are towns around the country that excel in amateur drama, Wexford being one. I think of Rossmore in west Cork, for example, and many others where there are decades-long generational commitments to amateur drama.