Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I echo the comments of the two previous speakers. I know the Minister is going to Ballaghaderreen tomorrow morning to talk about the creative economy. In light of the fact that research from the Western Development Commission has shown that 4,475 businesses are in the creative economy in the western region, employing 11,000 people, as well as the impact of the Farmleigh process and the Your Country, Your Call competition, will the Minister carry out an economic assessment of the impact of the arts on the economy? It would support the argument to ring-fence the funding.

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