Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh:

It is no different from any other departmental programme in having a budget line. There is no attempt within the Department to rival the Arts Council. The ambition of the Government through the Creative Ireland programme is to make arts, culture and creativity more central to all Departments. That in itself should help release resources for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board.

Where we are trying to get in the Creative Ireland programme is to a space of greater collaboration. While we respect the arm's length principle in Arts Council decision-making, there is nothing to fear from the Arts Council and the Departments of Education and Skills and Children and Youth Affairs working collaboratively on new initiatives. That is part of it. A significant element of our funding goes to local authorities. The Arts Council also provides funding to local authorities. However, we are going through culture teams which encompass not only arts officers but also heritage officers, librarians and archivists. In the past, they have all been funded through separate streams and we are bringing them all together. It is very much a result of how that worked in the 1916 centenary commemorations. The Senator is right that-----