John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If I may go back to the question about the local authorities and their funding, in spite of the fact that it is local authority funding, it will now have to come from central government too because the local authorities are challenged. In Kilkenny, I am acutely aware of the great role the arts and the network relating to arts projects, festivals and so on play in the economy. Through the local authorities, there needs to be a substantial input of funding from central government to support festivals such as the Arts Week and Rhythm and Roots and events centres such as the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny. A range of supports available through the local authorities will be challenged due to the financial circumstances of those authorities. It will be for central government to come in and act on that. I would hope that in highlighting their case to Departments, the witnesses would think of the fact that funding there has dried up and it is absolutely critical that it be replaced with direct funding input from central government. I mentioned the Watergate Theatre, which is being used for virtual performances and so on. That type of innovation also needs to be supported.

In terms of the Arts Council, the figure of €20 million was mentioned. The council is seeking €30 million for 2021. Has it factored into that request the fact that an awful lot of what happens in the world of art will really not pick up at all until the middle or end of next year? What has been the response of Government to that predicament?