Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): The Minister for Communities to detail any steps he is taking to support children and young people to learn to play a musical instrument.
Minister for Communities: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the funding and development body for the arts. Its functions include ‘to develop and improve the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts; and to increase public access to, and participation in, the arts.’ This includes initiatives which support the participation of children and young people in the arts, including in relation to music. In addition, the Arts Council provide financial support for the purchase of instruments, for groups and bands through its Musical Instruments Programme.
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