Great News for Music Generation with New Funding Announcement

January 27th 2016, Dublin: The long-term sustainability of non-mainstream music education in Ireland received a further boost today following a commitment by the Department of Education and Skills to future, ongoing funding of Music Generation, Ireland’s National Music Education Programme. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’ Sullivan joined U2’s Adam Clayton, Caitriona Fottrell and Kieran McLoughlin of The Ireland Funds, and Music Generation students to mark the announcement, which will facilitate the expansion of the ground breaking music initiative in up to nine additional areas of the country and secure the funding of the programme beyond 2020.

Pupils from 6th class in Scoil Chrónáin, Rathcoole were delighted to perform their best bodhrán beats for Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister for Education Jan O’ Sullivan and U2’s Adam Clayton today. The students who are tutored by world record breaker Robbie Walsh, travelled to the Department of An Taoiseach to showcase their talents and to demonstrate the benefits of performance music education in our schools. Míle buíchaois to Múinteoir Aileen and Máistir Colm for helping out.

Today’s announcement follows a recent €3m philanthropic donation by U2 (€2m raised from the band’s 2015 iNNOCENCE & eXPERIENCE Dublin concerts) and The Ireland Funds (€1m) to Music Generation to enable this second phase of the music education programme. Music Generation is currently established in 12 areas of the country, reaching some 26,000 children and young people annually who would otherwise not have had the choice of access or the chance to participate in music education.

Speaking at today’s announcement An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D said: “This is extremely positive news for music education in Ireland and a fine example of how partnerships across sectors – local, public, private and philanthropic can deliver long term benefits in different sectors. This announcement is a further mark of government’s ongoing investment in our children and young people and in the future of our country.”

The philanthropic donation of €3m by U2 and The Ireland Funds will provide the seed fund for the expansion of Music Generation, through locally run Music Education Partnerships (MEPs) in up to nine additional areas of the country between 2016 -2020. From 2020 the Department of Education will then replace the philanthropic donations to ensure programmes are sustained on a long-term and lasting basis through 50/50 matched funding with Local Music Education Partnerships who continue to raise the other 50% locally.

Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan T.D. said: “Today is about ensuring the long term future of non-mainstream music education in Ireland.  The Department of Education has worked closely with Music Generation as it evolved and we are delighted to see that both U2 and The Ireland Funds continue to be involved in the programme.  This initiative which began just six years ago is now a hugely successful programme that is transforming the landscape for music education in Ireland and we are delighted to be able to commit to the long term future of Phase 2.”

Welcoming today’s announcement, U2’s Adam Clayton said:
“Five years in and Music Generation is continuing to thrive. It is wonderful to see this further commitment from the government which will bring us closer to achieving the goal of access to music education for every child and young person in Ireland. The support we received at school was very important to us as young musicians, and we are very proud of our part in this programme.”

Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO, The Worldwide Ireland Funds said,
“The Ireland Funds are proud to be in partnership with U2 and the Government in support of Music Generation.   A whole range of public benefits are being achieved by providing musical education to 26,000 children and creating 330 jobs.  Music Generation is a splendid example of what can be achieved by Government and philanthropists working in tandem”.

Responding to government’s announcement, Rosaleen Molloy, National Director of Music Generation, said: “I am delighted that the Department of Education and Skills has announced that it will sustain the funding of new Music Generation programmes across Ireland into the future, together with local Music Education Partnerships. This support demonstrates Government’s commitment to develop a sustainable and inclusive music education service in Ireland, which will inspire and engage children and young people to participate in active music-making, regardless of socio-economic circumstances or geographical location. The next step for Music Generation is now to build on the success of its first five year phase, taking the programme to the next level and responding to demand from around the country, safe in the knowledge that financial backing is secured for years to come.”