Government planning to introduce €100 culture cards for 18-year-olds

Kenneth Fox

A Fianna Fáil TD has backed a culture card for 18-year-olds by taking to the DJ decks.

Plans for the €100 culture card for live events are in the preliminary stages, with Department officials reaching out to potential stakeholders and partners.

A video of Fianna Fáil's Peter Chap Cleere backing the culture card while pretending to DJ has gone viral on social media.

The Carlow Kilkenny TD says other countries like Germany and Spain have already adopted similar initiatives for their teenagers.

Speaking in the Dáil, when asked about the scheme, Minister for Culture, Patrick O'Donovan, said, "I propose to examine the introduction of a youth culture card and its potential to enhance interest in the arts among young people.

"My Department will lead the assessment of modalities, scope, and reach for a youth card scheme.

"Consideration will be supported with advice from my Department, other relevant Departments, the National Cultural Institutions, and stakeholders in the arts sector.

"My officials are in the preliminary stages of reaching out to potential stakeholders and partners in relation to the culture card.

"It is important to ensure that any initiative provides access opportunities for all young people and represents an effective and efficient use of resources.

Mr O'Donovan said research regarding arts and cultural participation among children confirms the benefits to children when they engage in the arts in their early years and also indicates that patterns of participation in the arts are set from a very young age.

He said the Arts Council is partnering with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) on an Arts in Early learning & Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare(SAC) pilot.

The pilot is being overseen by a steering group made up of representatives from the DCDE Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division, the Department of Education Early Years Inspectorate, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), this Department and the Arts Council.

"Access and exposure to the arts from an early age can establish a lifetime interest and a fulfilling appreciation. I intend to explore the contribution a Youth Culture Card could make to encourage that interest," he said.