Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply and assure her that I will give her all possible co-operation in my new role. I am sure we can work together in the interests of the arts, tourism and sport. As part of her strategy, I encourage the Minister to protect the progress that has been made over the past 20 years. In addition, the Minister's new strategy should encourage new writing, new writers and new artists and it will be important to bring the arts out to venues throughout the country. These policies should be the pillars of the new strategy. However, will this be possible when one considers that just two years ago, arts funding was €83 million whereas in last year's budget, it was pared down to €67 million. Both the Arts Council and arts organisations nationwide have pared back their expenditure as much as they can and a further reduction this year would mean the loss of important personnel and the necessity to discontinue programmes they have built up over the years. Consequently, in view of the new departmental strategy, can the Minister assure Members that funding will not be cut in this year's budget?

See this speech in context