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

It will receive €68.2 million in funding, which is nearly 50% of the total spend of my Department in that space. I have increased its budget progressively every year since I was appointed Minister in 2014. Creative Ireland does not get priority funding. It received €5 million last year and will get the same this year to assist local authorities to roll out the Creative Children programme. The Deputy will agree that setting up culture teams in local authorities has been extremely successful. Both counties in my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan have a Creative Ireland plan and culture teams in place. This system is working extremely well. More and more people are engaging with the arts and culture and that is good. I want to be very clear on the funding.

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