Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

140. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available for arts projects undertaken by members of active retirement groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18334/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department does not provide operating grants as described by the Deputy. In general terms, responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is a statutorily independent body, funded by my Department and independent in its day-to-day operations, and I have no role to play in relation to its funding decisions in this and other matters.