Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I take it from the Minister's reply that she is unable to produce the figure that I have asked for. I will move on and look at the issue of words rather than figures. I quote the Minister the following words: "There is anger, disquiet and disbelief about the effective dilution of the arts as a Cabinet portfolio." That is taken from a motion which was unanimously passed in this House just a couple of weeks ago. Given that anger, disquiet and disbelief, can the Minister, instead of talking about what is planned in a programme for Government over the next five years, give us an indication as to what increase she intends to deliver for arts funding in this year's budget? The National Campaign for the Arts is looking for a trebling of funding to 0.3%. Is the Minister going to deliver that trebling? If not, will it be a doubling or what?

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