Ms Katherine Licken:

We would be happy to see proposals from local authorities on artists' spaces. We have also increased funding to the Arts Council significantly in the past year. The Minister secured a €7 million increase in its funding. Money that goes to the Arts Council goes to artists. It is another piece of the jigsaw in terms of supporting artists but we are cognisant of the issues in urban areas particularly, the pressure on buildings generally and the impact it has on artists.