The Chairman of the Arts Council Ms Pat Moylan has welcomed the announcement of additional jobs for Galway by the gaming company Electronic Arts.  The Creative Industries hold a real dividend for Ireland, Ms Moylan said.

"This is a fantastic boost for Galway and for Irish jobs.  The gaming industry is one of the many creative industries where Ireland can excel.  This industry directly benefits from the creative culture of the Irish.  Gaming brings together creative and technological skills and Ireland is well placed to lead the world in this area.

"Ireland has invested in the arts over many years and sectors like gaming and software benefit from that investment.  There are now more than 2,000 employed in gaming in Ireland and the creative industries here employ 79,000 in total.

"The role the arts play in developing a flexible, creative and innovative workforce is well documented and acknowledged.  Ireland needs to continue to invest in the arts to develop our national capacity for innovation in areas such as gaming."

http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/news/news.aspx?article=ca55ee82-6cb1-49a9-811b-83aa122f38a8