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The closure of The Complex arts centre will have devastating effects for Dublin’s cultural scene, according to Social Democrats arts spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “The Complex has been home to exhibitions, gigs, and studio spaces since 2019 – it is now one of the most established cultural hubs in the city, with its […]

The extension of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme is welcome, but Budget 2026 lacks detail, timelines, and confirmation of whether artists with disabilities will be accounted for, according to Social Democrats arts and culture spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “I welcome that the Basic Income for the Arts scheme will be extended […]

Today’s revelation of an IT overspend of €900,000 by RTÉ shows that lack of transparency and mismanagement continue to plague the national broadcaster, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s spokesperson on arts and the media, said: “Just weeks after it emerged RTÉ had to write-down €3.6 million due […]

The revelation that RTÉ had to write-down €3.6 million after a failed IT project highlights the urgent need to bring the national broadcaster under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who will sit on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said: “This latest waste of […]

Scrapping a proposed measure which would see essential funding diverted towards domestic filmmaking places the future of Irish storytelling at risk, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who’s the party’s Arts and Media spokesperson, said: “Minister Patrick O’Donovan’s decision to withdraw support for a levy which would foster Irish filmmaking talent and […]

The Government must stop dithering and make a decision to extend the Basic Income for the Arts scheme before the current pilot runs out, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who’s the party’s Arts spokesperson, said: “When I queried the Arts Minister on his plans for a successor scheme to the pilot […]

The scandal surrounding the National Gallery’s €120,000-plus scanner is shocking but not surprising, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s arts spokesperson, said: “It’s sadly no longer a surprise to hear another huge sum of money has been wasted by a State organisation – this time, €120,000 on a […]

Full scrutiny of the millions wasted by the Arts Council on a failed IT project must be a priority for the incoming Public Accounts Committee (PAC), according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s arts spokesperson, said: “It has emerged today that €7 million was spent by the Arts Council […]