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

The Arts Council and the Irish Film Board are independent in their decision making processes and it is a matter for the boards of each body to set out its plans. However, both the Arts Council and the Film Board play a central role in delivering the Creative Ireland programme, which is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national well-being.

Significant progress has been achieved in the delivery of the ten actions identified for 2017 under the Creative Ireland programme, both at home and abroad. It is my intention to build upon this progress by strengthening all aspects of our arts and cultural infrastructure, including key agencies such the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as resources permit.

The Government has already shown its determination to deliver on the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve.

To this effect in budget 2017, I secured significant additional funding for both the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board.

The increase in the Arts Council’s allocation in 2017 was €5 million, or 8%. This will assist the council greatly in implementing its ten-year strategy for 2016-2025, Making Great Art Work, including under its new funding framework.

I also secured an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board in budget 2017, bringing the total allocation for 2017 to over €16 million. Budgetary decisions relating to both bodies for 2018 will be made in the context of budget 2018.

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