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

I thank the Deputy. I will be clear. The investment in our artists, which is the most important thing, is €18 million in current expenditure.

That investment will go into a number of different areas. The Arts Council will get an extra €5 million. People are getting confused between capital and current expenditure. The point is that we have built those projects. They are completed, which is good news. There is also other good news. There is a €3 million capital investment programme for arts centres throughout the country. The applications have come to my Department and they will be assessed shortly, so I will be able to distribute funding for capital projects across the country. The point is that there is €18 million available, which certainly is not scraps in my book. It is a lot of money and I am glad we have it for the arts and culture sector.

See this speech in context