Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The programme for Government commits us to multiannual funding to the Arts Council, which should identify key areas for development for organisations or key strategies in the arts and to ensure increased arts activity is sustained and developed. The Government is committed to moving in that direction, particularly where key areas for development can be ring-fenced. Funding for the council has increased spectacularly by 68% from €47 million in 2002 to €80 million this year. That represents a significant commitment by the Government and its predecessor to invest in the arts. I pay tribute to the Arts Council, which deals with 330 regularly funded organisations, which employ 2,000 people, and 170 festivals. The council funds a range of organisations, events and causes under its remit. I am committed to examining how we can move forward on multiannual funding but it should not hold back the council because successive Ministers in recent years have ensured major increases in funding.

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