Martin Cullen has cut funding to two Writer's Centres.

[Christine Murray]

REINSTATE WESTERN WRITERS' CENTRE FUNDING Petition : [ powered by iPetitions.com ]
This is the petition link to the Western Writer's Centre petition which is currently
being circulated.

The IWC in Parnell Square is also receiving zero funding for the 2008-2009
Period:

irish writers centre

The Arts Act 2003, which ties the Arts (which should remain independent of
Government interferences) is a case study in how the minister utilises his
powers. it was introduced by John O Donoghue and as I have stated here
before it ties the Government too closely to the development of Arts
for only the second time since the Foundation of the State :

http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/b...03/a242003.pdf

I have also mentioned this on another thread and in the Poetry Ireland Forum
in relation to the neutral cultivation of the Arts. My Opinion of Cullen hit
an all time low with his abolition of Duchás in 2003, which allowed for
untold damage to Heritage Policy and was indicated from the first in
the moving of Portfolios at the inception of the last but one Government
of Bertie Ahern. Cullen's choosing of personnel for the Arts Council was
appalling anyhow. Will Put the list in here later.

[smitchy2]

Cullen should be asked how much of the irish horse and greyhound fund will be cut this year.
It is an industry that can be funded itself but has been subsidises for years under FF.

[Christine Murray]

He abolished Duchás. For Cullen and Ahern the idea of Heritage is the idea of a
saleable quantity. I am beyond disgust at the inability of a government to act
as they were elected to act- Stewards of our Heritage and Arts.

Fcking disgraceful behaviour.
http://www.savetara.com
http://www.poetryireland.ie/forum/sh...0368#post10368

[Clanrickard]

Good. Writers earn tax free. They, or any other artist should get not one red cent from the tax payer. Let people who like the arts pay for them out of their own pocket not out of mine.

[Twilight]

I suppose this belongs in Health but it has its place here as well, I hope you agree.

I attend as a volunteer teacher to people who are in the mental health secure units and those who attend but have been released into the community. It was very successful. We printed two books and several newspapers over the last 5 years. The books contain either fact or fiction stories, I don't care. Some of the stories are brilliant.

You've guessed it. Its been closed down. Thats not right and its not fair. The people were getting more and more interested in general things and not just their health and now they have nothing. My heart is broken for them,

[Christine Murray]

I don't get tax free anything.

Cullen has no right to be in charge of a Department and I will keep saying this.
Theres been too much revolving chairs over the years.

[Clanrickard]

I don't get tax free anything.

Cullen has no right to be in charge of a Department and I will keep saying this.
There's been too much revolving chairs over the years.

If you are a writer you are not taxed. If you are aan artist you are not taxed. If you are a musician you are not taxed. Yet they still want hand outs. Well they can F off as far as I am concerned.

[Christine Murray]

I am a writer who is involved in tutoring and literacy. I really want to know how
C Ahern got the exemption btw. There is a lot more to working than simply making
hard cash also. What Cullen has accomplished in terms of culling programmes
for literacy and the unglamourous side of just getting on with writing would be the
envy of Mao.

[corelli]

If you are a writer you are not taxed. If you are aan artist you are not taxed. If you are a musician you are not taxed. Yet they still want hand outs. Well they can F off as far as I am concerned.

I am going to, possibly, change a habit of years standing and agree with Clan on this one. If, as an artist, you benefit from tax free status is this not just a Government grant for somewhere to hang out and "practice your craft". Sounds strange to my ears.
Additionally, was there not a piece in the paper recently questioning how the funding was spent in these centre. The point being that for 4 members of staff the wage bill was astronomical with the Director of one of them on a serious salary.

[Christine Murray]

These centres are about literacy and not all of the writers are actually involved
in exemption schemes. They are involved In Cúirt, literacy, education in schools
and other such projects. Cullen knows this and to my eternal shame I cannot believe
that Colm Toibín is part of that board.

The writers centres are spaces for Arts development and a minor % would be
exempted.