Sinn Féin has committed over €60 million in unprecedented extra funding for arts, culture and heritage within the party’s Alternative Budget.

The party’s spokesperson for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts, Culture, Tourism and Media, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said this “demonstrates the party’s ambition” for the sector.

Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:

“Over the last number of months, I have engaged with artists and arts workers to listen to their needs, from over 100 who took part in our Dáil Ealaíon earlier this month to the more than 1000 who answers our arts survey earlier this year.

“Sinn Féin is serious about building a Poblacht na hÉireann which is also a Poblacht na nEalaíon, a Republic for the Arts, which is why we are committing €20 million extra for the Arts Council alone in 2025. This would help to reach more artists and art forms than ever before, to continue the expansion of the Creative Schools programme, to start the roll out a dedicated Arts Spaces Capital Programme to deliver dedicated workspaces, and to begin the work towards a democratic transformation of the arts as set out in the ambitious 50-point plan for the arts we published in recent weeks.

“We also believe in increasing support for Irish artists to perform and showcase their work overseas, which is why we pledge an additional €2 million to Culture Ireland. Making sure cultural policy is evidence-based requires a dedicated Sociolinguistic and Cultural Unit in the CSO, which we would fund at a cost of €300,000.

“Empowering young people to take part in cultural activities, both artistic and sporting, is also a priority for Sinn Féin, which is why we are committing €17.4 million to the roll out of an Activity Card at a rate of €130 per child to use towards participation.

“We are also committed to building on the tremendous success of our film industry in recent years, by providing Screen Ireland with €7.3 million extra in funding to focus on supporting regional film-making as we aim to develop a long-term replacement for the regional uplift, while also working to ensure this funding and the Section 481 tax relief benefits workers, creators and performers.

“This would be in addition to the €183.1 million allocation we commit to abolish the TV licence fee and ensure direct exchequer funding for public service media providers – not only RTÉ, but also to invest in news, current affairs and journalism within independent broadcasters and media who provide a vital service to their communities nationwide – and a further €12.4 million extra to support TG4’s role commissioning Irish language productions as part of a separate €63.2 million package of measures for our Irish language culture and Gaeltacht communities.

“Traveller language and culture has been neglected by Government for too long, which is why we propose a dedicated fund of €1.7 million in 2025.

“Sinn Féin’s commitment to our heritage can be seen in the €1.5 million we pledge to develop a new annual programme of commemorations to follow on from the Decade of Centenaries, a further €1 million extra for the Heritage Council, and €1.3 million to employ a county and city archaeologist in every local authority. We would also save Moore Street and develop a 1916 Culture Quarter, starting with a €10 million capital investment in 2025.”