Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme, ACCESS, is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved access to and participation in the arts for many nationwide. The scheme has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural spaces.

Facilities funded to date include integrated arts centres, theatres, galleries, studio, and creative and performance spaces. In this manner my Department provides the bulk of capital funding for building and refurbishing arts facilities around the country, mainly in the not- for-profit sector, while the Arts Council provides the ongoing revenue support for many of the facilities.

A total of €81 million has been included under the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 for ACCESS. In 2007-08 grants totalling €42.7 million were allocated under the ACCESS II scheme and since the commencement of the current NDP €15.3 million has been drawn down.

While there are no plans to announce a further round of funding under the arts capital projects during 2009 the matter will be kept under review in the context of available resources.

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