Minister for Arts defends public works fund introduced by Haughey

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan says he has no plans to change the funding provision for public works schemes introduced by the late Charles Haughey.

He has defended the scheme which has populated motorways, quaysides and bridges with objects judged to be art.

The “per cent for art scheme” provides funding of up to 1 per cent of the cost of publicly funded infrastructure, which can be applied for by local authorities to commission original works of art.

The funding, which is subject to a cap of €64,000, is available across all Government departments but must be ring-fenced for art and cannot go to services such as playgrounds. No figure was available on how much had been spent on public art works over the past decade, the department said.

The matter has come to a head in the Minister's native Kerry, where more than €50,000 is being spent by the county council on an abstract piece of art on Dingle's seafront. The marina in Dingle already has a number of sculptures, including a bust of Mr Haughey erected by local fishermen. Just two weeks ago a large fibre-glass penguin at the entrance to the town's marine life museum had its wings clipped, causing €5,000 of damage.

Locals had no idea about the Viking prow-like or dragon’s tail sculpture until it was erected three weeks ago.

Amid criticism of the spend at a time of heavy cutbacks by the council, the Labour mayor of Kerry Terry O’Brien said some of the money should have been used for vital services.

'On the heavy side'
Mr O'Brien, who works as a community development officer for the Irish Wheelchair Association, has described the spend as " a bit on the heavy side". Killarney artist Joe Neeson has been paid €48,500 for the work and an additional €6,000 has been allocated to cover advisers and contingency fees.

“We all need to step back and maybe ask, could we have done it for €25,000 and maybe give the other €25,000 towards the mobility grant in Kerry that has been cut by 56 per cent,” Mr O’Brien added.

Others, including some of the town’s artistic community said the money would have been better spent on a much- needed children’s playground.

However, Mr Deenihan defended the scheme this weekend. “I have no proposal to change the policy. It is generally welcomed across the country, providing art on motorways and such. Artists would say there should be more public art. It can lift the location and be a tourist attraction.”

Kerry arts officer Kate Kennelly said the sculpture went through a public process and adjudicators including artists and curators were brought in to evaluate proposals.