1493. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the challenges facing Irish publishers and authors in securing shelf space and visibility in major book retailers, including the impact of consolidation in the book retail market and the increasingly short retail shelf-life of Irish-published books; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55635/26]

1494. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether the Government intends to develop a national strategy to support Irish publishing, authors and booksellers in light of changing retail practices, digital technologies and artificial intelligence; if he plans to convene a national consultation with Irish authors, publishers, booksellers, libraries and other stakeholders to inform the development of such a strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55640/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1493 and 1494 together.

Literature is a vital part of people’s lives in Ireland: books, stories, language and reading are essential to our culture and society.

Primary support for the arts in Ireland is delivered by the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland and Budget 2026 has maintained record funding of €140 million for the Arts Council from my Department.

The Arts Council support organisations and activities that maintain and develop Ireland’s world-famous literary landscape. The Arts Council invests in writers at all stages of their careers, and they support literary publishers and journals that platform new or experimental voices. They also work to create the best environment for writers to create their best work.

Support for publishing is concentrated on indigenous, independent literary publishers and journals that platform new, challenging or distinctive voices.

Funding has also been provided to Literature Ireland by the Arts Council. A not-for-profit organisation, Literature Ireland (known as Ireland Literature Exchange until 2016) is in operation since 1995. They have funded the translation of over 2,000 works of Irish literature into 56 languages around the world.

Literature Ireland’s services include:

* Running a translation grant programme for publishers to fund the translation of literature from Ireland into foreign languages, and the translation of foreign literature into English or Irish.

* Operating a residential bursary programme for literary translators.

* Attending international book fairs and festivals and managing the Irish national stands at the London and Frankfurt book fairs.

* Support for international author and translator events.

* Providing information to publishers, agents, translators, writers and other interested parties.

* Publishing and distributing New Writing from Ireland and other publications.

* Participating in international literary translation projects.

The Arts Council also provides funding to Words Ireland, which is an umbrella group of seven literature organisations whose purpose is to strengthen the literature sector in Ireland and to offer professional development support and opportunities to writers. The organisations which make up the network are: Children’s Books Ireland, Literature Ireland, Poetry Ireland, The Stinging Fly, Irish Writers Centre, Publishing Ireland and Munster Literature Centre.

Words Ireland's remit includes the provision of professional development opportunities, with a particular focus on mid-career and advanced career practitioners. It provides mentoring opportunities, creating meaningful employment for professional writers and opportunities for emerging writers to advance their creative practice.

More details are available on the websites of the Arts Council at www.//artscouncil.ie/developing-the-arts/artsforms-and-arts-practice-areas/literature/, Literature Ireland at www.//www.literatureireland.com, and Words Ireland at www.//wordsireland.com/.