Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I remind the Minister that the increase of 11% he provided to the Arts Council this year was more or less committed already. There is a commitment to the Abbey Theatre, a €2 million commitment to touring and a commitment to the traditional arts. In reality, the Arts Council has received a very small increase.

Last year the Arts Council received approximately 2,065 applications from individuals, festivals, groups and so on but it could only fund 500 of these. Of the individual artists who applied for funding, only one in three received funding, and of the festivals, one in two received funding. Many people will be disappointed next year. I am sure the Minister will agree that a 30% increase in funding might result in a 100% increase in output. Many artists are frustrated because they do not have the funding to develop their work fully. We are failing to capitalise on much latent undeveloped talent due to the lack of funding.

Given the Arts Council will have a demand for approximately €120 million next year but will receive €70 million or less, the result will be frustration for many people. The Minister should consider ways of providing additional funding. I realise the Supplementary Estimate will be brought forward next week. If the Minister could provide funding from any source for the Arts Council for next year, it would assist it to fulfil its meaningful role. Before the Minister announced the Estimate, the chairman and chief executive of the council expressed concern about the level of funding it is receiving for next year. Funding per capita here is well below that in other countries and Northern Ireland.

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