John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

The Estimates for Public Services (Abridged Version) and Summary Public Capital Programme for 2007, which were published on 16 November last, make a provision of €686.836 million for my Department with a further €11.765 million provision for the National Gallery of Ireland, representing an increase of 17.6% over the 2006 allocations.

However, in the initial analysis of the figures, it is important to view them in the context of the exceptional growth in financial allocations for these areas in recent years. The arts, sport and tourism sectors have received unprecedented tangible support from Government in terms of significantly increased financial allocations. Since 2003, current funding has been increased by a whopping 43.4%, or €121 million. However, capital funding has increased by a massive 147.5% or €178 million.

Turning to 2007, the capital allocation for my Department and the National Gallery is almost €299 million, making provision for vital infrastructural developments across all sectors of my Department's remit and demonstrating strong and continued Government support for the development of local, regional and national facilities for the enjoyment of arts and sports activities.

The total current allocation for my Department for 2007 is almost €400 million, an increase of over 8% on 2006. In addition to providing for the day-to-day running costs of my Department and the various agencies and bodies under its aegis, it will also enable the roll-out and further development of the many important initiatives and support programmes available through both the Department and the agencies.

In regard to the arts, culture and film sectors, the 2007 Estimates provide for a combined allocation of over €216.56 million for my Department and the National Gallery of Ireland, an increase of 8.65% over 2006. Of particular note is the 11% increase in Arts Council funding, bringing the council's total budget for 2007 to €80 million, confirmation of the high regard in which arts and culture are held by the Government. Funding for the Arts Council has increased by 53% over the last three years. I have also made a provision of €4.5 million to Culture Ireland, a 50% increase in the funding available this year, recognising that quality cultural exports highlight Ireland internationally as a culturally strong visitor and investment destination. Funding for the Irish Film Board will increase by 15%, enabling the board to continue with its essential role of developing and supporting the Irish film sector.

There are increased expenditure provisions for our national cultural institutions while support for the National Gallery of Ireland will increase by 25% to over €11.5 million. I am particularly pleased to make available an allocation of €250,000 towards the operating costs of the new National Children's Museum.

This Government has spent over €900 million on the promotion of sport and sporting infrastructure since 1997, an unprecedented level of investment. This is clear and unambiguous evidence of the importance the Government attaches to having in place modern well-equipped and well-managed sporting facilities supported by a wide range of programmes, all of which have a real benefit in our communities. For 2007, I am pleased to have been able to again secure a significantly increased allocation for the sports sector, with a total provision of over €316 million, representing an increase of 30% over 2006.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Within this sports allocation, the budget for the Irish Sports Council will increase by 20% from just under €41 million this year to over €49 million in 2007. This will allow for the funding for the Irish Institute of Sport which was launched in July 2006 to deliver optimal support for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and sports, as well as providing support for the new horse sport governing body, Horse Sport Ireland. The increased allocation will also provide for the continued extension of the network of local sports partnerships and increases in funding for programmes specifically targeted at women.

The 2007 Estimates allocations for my Department also provide for unprecedented levels of capital investment in our sporting infrastructure, with €76 million being made available towards the costs of the redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road stadium and a further €30 million for the development of the first phase of the Sports Campus at Abbotstown. The capital allocation to meet the cost of grants for local and regional sports facilities, including swimming pools, will be almost €88 million. This will be used to meet payments in respect of commitments already made as well as those to be made in 2007 under the sports capital and local authority swimming pool programmes. As a point of clarification, I should point out that while the total subhead provision for the sports capital and local authority swimming pool programmes is €67 million, it is the intention that the full capital carryover of €20.842 million will be applied to these areas.

In regard to the tourism sector, I have been able to secure an allocation of €154 million, a 9% increase on the 2006 budget, resulting in the largest ever Exchequer budget for tourism. This is clear evidence of this Government's strong commitment to the Irish tourism industry and enables my Department to provide effective support for the sector as it responds to the challenges outlined in the New Horizons tourism strategy.

Within the overall tourism budget, the increase of 12.5% in the tourism marketing fund to €45 million builds on the increased funding provided in earlier years and will enable both Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland to ratchet up their marketing activities in 2007, with a particular emphasis on an enhanced regional focus and new marketing strategies for North America and new and developing markets.

The new Regional Tourism Development Boards will also benefit from additional funding being provided to Fáilte Ireland, which is being allocated almost €80 million in 2007. These boards, which were established over the past few months, will bring a new dynamic to regional tourism, in particular in the planning, product development and training areas. There are also plans to launch a new product development strategy and the focus of the strategy is both to further enhance tourism in developed areas and to take special initiatives in areas of the country which are less developed in a tourism sense. This new strategy is expected to form part of the tourism programme in the new national development plan. An allocation of €8.75 million is being provided for tourism product development in 2007.

The numbers outlined above speak for themselves. The continued investment provided for in the 2007 Estimates are a clear demonstration of the continued support which this Government has shown, and continues to show, for the arts, sport and tourism sectors.

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