Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs

Culture

The Department acknowledges the fine art and cultural heritage of the country by providing the capital infrastructure for the National Cultural Institutions, as well as influencing the development of the private sector cultural industry through appropriate financial support for projects supporting the cultural infrastructure in Ireland.

Cultural Institutions

The Cultural Institutions Unit of the Department seeks to create an environment enabling the National Cultural Institutions to flourish through the provision of financial resources and an appropriate policy framework.

The National Cultural Institutions are:

National Archives, National Concert Hall, National Library of Ireland, National Museum of Ireland, Chester Beatty Library and the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Crawford Art Gallery Cork and in addition the National Gallery of Ireland, which has its own Exchequer Vote and is responsible to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Issues relating to the day-to-day management of the individual National Cultural Institutions are dealt with directly by the institutions themselves; matters relating to the general policy under which they operate and the provision of financial resources are matters for this Department.

Core Policy Goal

To enhance access to and to recognise the social and economic role of the arts, culture and film sectors in Ireland by promoting and encouraging artistic expression, cultural awareness and participation, through an appropriate policy, legislative and resource framework. provide a capital infrastructure for the National Cultural Institutions.

Supporting Objectives

• To develop a detailed, integrated policy which will create and sustain involvement in the cultural sector and will encourage access and participation having regard, inter alia, to Government, EU and North/South policies.
• To progress the cultural capital programme as set out in the National Development Plan and the Programme for Government within the financial resources available.
• To improve the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the mechanisms delivering State support for the cultural sector through the various State agency structures.
• To enhance the collections of the national cultural institutions that are collecting agencies and access to these. To service the requirements of the Government's Commemoration established under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach.

Key Issues

• To review the National Archives Act, 1986;
• To oversee the completion of the capital projects of the National Cultural Institutions to meet their accommodation needs and to improve the level and quality of services to the public;
• To develop and establish strategies in consultation with the cultural institutions concerned to address their future maintenance and capital development needs;  
• To encourage the cultural institutions to maximise their appeal to the general public and, in particular, to young people, the socially disadvantaged and visitors from abroad.

Key Legislation

Heritage Fund Act, 2001

National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997

National Archives Act, 1986

Documents and Pictures Act, 1945

National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 (Commencement) Orders

Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 222/1997

Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 328/1997

Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 438/1998

Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 640/2002

Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 218/2005

Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 219/2005

Statutory Instrument (S.I.).No. 220/2005

Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 226/2005

Copies of the above legislation (including commencement orders) pertaining to the Cultural Institutions are available through the Government Publications Office or at www.irishstatutebook.ie

Council of National Cultural Institutions

The Council of National Cultural Institutions is a statutory body established under the Heritage Fund Act, 2001. www.irishstatutebook.ie

The purpose of the Council is

• to facilitate the pooling together of talent, experience and vision of the Directors of the National Cultural Institutions in furtherance of the national cultural interest and
• to make recommendations to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on proposed acquisitions using the Heritage Fund in respect of five eligible institutions, provided for under section 2 (1) of the Heritage Fund Act, 2001.

Membership of the Council comprises the following:

Director, National Archives
Director, National Library of Ireland
Director, National Museum of Ireland
Director, National Gallery of Ireland
Director, Arts Council
Chief Executive, Heritage Council
Director and Chief Executive Officer, Irish Museum of Modern Art
Director, National Concert Hall
Director, Chester Beatty Library
Artistic Director, Abbey Theatre
Director, Crawford Art Gallery

Contact: Cal McCarthy, Secretary, CNCI, Government Buildings, New Road, Killarney, Co Kerry.

Email: cal.mccarthy@ahg.gov.ie

Website: http://www.cnci.ie