Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is something that is ongoing. We will do it because it is important we know how much funding is needed. I am delighted I was able to increase the funding to the arts. Guess what? The Arts Council, the Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland were also delighted. They are all happy they got an increase. I would love to give them more but we have managed to do very well this year. Will the Deputy please acknowledge it is an increase? He should remember where we were in 2008. Things have improved a lot. We have come through an economic crisis and there have been cuts across the board. I am very pleased and I want to build on the increases I got this year. We can see the huge benefit there is in investing in the arts.

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