John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

Since becoming Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in 2002, I have consistently and effectively made the case, in the context of annual Estimates discussions, for increased funding for the arts, and the results are clearly in evidence.

Since 2002 funding for the Arts Council has increased by over 67% from €47.67 million in 2002 to €80 million in 2007. This clearly demonstrates the Government's commitment to the arts and has allowed the Arts Council to support a record number of artists and arts organisations around the country. These are significant amounts of money in any context and have transformed and increased access to the arts in recent years, and provide an excellent platform for even further developments in the years ahead.

However, the Arts Council is an independent body under the Arts Act 2003 and is wholly independent in its funding decisions. I have, therefore, no involvement in the allocation of grants to specific projects under the Arts Council's schemes.

See this speech in context