Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 May 2023
61. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the status of the Programme for Government commitment in respect of the roadmap for digital creative industries; when a plan is expected for the future of Creative Ireland, which concluded in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9170/23]
View answerThe Creative Ireland Programme is an all-of-Government cultural initiative led by my Department that seeks to deploy creativity to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. In December 2022 the Government approved the extension of the Programme for a further 5 years from 2023-2027. The delivery of this programme across the five pillars of Creative Youth; Creative Communities; Creative Health and Wellbeing; Creative Climate Action and Sustainability and Creative Industries demonstrates in itself the depth of the value of creativity to our society.
The addition of the Creative Industries pillar in this second iteration of the Programme recognises the importance of creativity as a means to deliver commercial success and employment. Within this pillar, the commitment in the Programme for Government to produce a Roadmap for the Digital Creative Industries is being progressed. This work will build on the success of the existing Audio Visual Plan Action Plan and is being led by my Department in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment with critical inputs from the Department of Further & Higher Education, Innovation, Research & Science and the Department of Community & Rural Development.
The Roadmap, which will be published this summer, will set out a framework through which Government Departments and enterprise agencies can collaborate with Ireland’s digital creative industries in a concerted and integrated way to realise the potential of this exciting sector.
Furthermore, I recently announced the recipients of support from the Creative Communities Economic Action Fund for 2023. A total of just over €418,000 has been allocated to 5 projects covering areas such as digital games and virtual reality. Building on the work undertaken in the first round of support in 2022, this funding will continue to develop creative economies at local level.
