375. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the key measures taken to support arts and culture since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53453/26]

The provision for arts and culture in my Department's Vote in 2026 is just over €402m, a record level.  Some of the key measures introduced in 2025 to help support the arts and culture included:

• funding secured for a successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot as part of Budget 2026 (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/ministers-odonovan-and-mcconalogue-announce-details-of-budget-2026-for-the-department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/)

• €4.9 million announced for the promotion of Irish culture overseas (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-patrick-odonovan-announces-over-11-million-in-funding-for-culture-irelands-promotion-of-irish-arts-globally/)

• over 1000 free events took place as part of Creative Ireland’s Cruinniú nan Óg (www.cruinniu.gov.ie/news/cruinniu-na-nog-2025-launches/)

• €271,404 in capital grants to arts and culture organisations for upgrading and development of facilities announced (/www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-patrick-odonovan-announces-271404-in-capital-grants-to-arts-and-culture-organisations/)

• €3 million funding provided to the Irish Arts Centre in New York (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-odonovan-announces-3m-in-funding-for-the-irish-arts-centre-new-york/)

• €192,193 announced for the Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-odonovan-approves-funding-of-over-190000-for-regional-museum-exhibition-scheme-2025/)

• launched the ‘Safe & Sound’ safety training Night-Time Economy initiative (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/government-launches-new-safety-training-for-irelands-night-time-economy-workers/)

• €293,252 in grants announced for Small-Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-odonovan-approves-funding-of-293252-for-small-scale-local-festivals-and-summer-schools-scheme-2025/)

• National Famine Commemoration took place in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick and International Commemoration of Irish Famine took place in Gaelic Park, Chicago, Illinois, honouring the memory of those who died during An Gorta Mór (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/national-famine-commemoration-takes-place-in-kilmallock-co-limerick/)

• launched the Daniel O’Connell Commemorative Programme to mark 250th Anniversary of his birth (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/state-led-commemoration-at-derrynane-house-marks-250th-anniversary-of-birth-of-daniel-oconnell/)

• announced public programme marking 1926 Census release of records by National Archives www.nationalarchives.ie/news-and-events/census-1926/#:~:text=On%2018%20April%202026%2C%20this%20extraordinary%20collection%20of,portrait%20of%20Irish%20life%20one%20hundred%20years%20ago

• enhanced tax credit for low-to-medium budget film productions (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-odonovan-and-minister-donohoe-launch-new-enhanced-tax-credit-for-mid-to-lower-budget-films/)

• Screen Ireland Irish language slate development fund announced (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-odonovan-and-minister-donohoe-launch-new-enhanced-tax-credit-for-mid-to-lower-budget-films/)

• €500,000 in funding for music venues showcasing original grassroots performers increasing to €1 million in 2026 As highlighted in the Budget announcement (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/ministers-odonovan-and-mcconalogue-announce-details-of-budget-2026-for-the-department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/), priorities for 2026 include;

• Successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot launched Minister O’Donovan invites applications for the New Basic Income for the Arts scheme www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-odonovan-invites-applications-for-the-new-basic-income-for-the-arts-scheme/

• Completion of the repository project in the National Archives in 2026.

• Major redevelopment of the Crawford Art Gallery.

• Commence redeveloping the National Concert Hall with the Discover Centre project (a music learning and engagement centre) in the old Pathology block.

• A new €6 million capital works scheme will be developed to fund arts capital projects in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, providing support for communities across the country.

• Screen Ireland 2026 allocation increased by €2.1 million to develop new strategies to grow the gaming and special effects sectors in Ireland and for increased support to the indigenous and incoming screen industry.

• An additional allocation of €600,000 to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann who celebrate their 75th Anniversary in 2026.

• €1 million in funding, double the 2025 allocation, for the 2026 round of the Grassroots Music Venue Support scheme to support independent music venues and artists across the country.

• Culture Ireland 2026 allocation increased by €800k, to help develop and sustain Irish artists’ international careers.

My Department continues to focus on the delivery of Programme for Government commitments for the arts and culture sectors which are a key priority for Government.