Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Minister on securing funding from the sale of the national lottery in particular for the works planned for the national city of culture in Limerick and the projects commemorating the decade of centenaries. This is the sixth successive year of cuts in funding to the Arts Council. Everyone in this House is conscious of the vital contribution the arts make to the quality of Irish life and the importance of the arts at this time of economic difficulties when the morale of the nation is particularly low. How will the Arts Council operate with the reduction envisaged for this year?

There has been a decrease - albeit somewhat modest - in funding to the Irish Film Board. In the past the House has discussed the great success of the film board and the very worthwhile economic activity it generates. Is this cut not unworthy and likely to be counterproductive?

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