Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister is familiar and has met the National Campaign for the Arts. I had the pleasure of hosting the group in Leinster House to make a presentation on its pre-budget submission. As an umbrella organisation which represents the arts across the country, it is concerned about how the roadmap has been set out by the Government and the stated objective of doubling the investment. Doubling the investment is a commitment and a real promise which artists took with all sincerity. However, the National Campaign for the Arts is concerned that there might be a dilution of the commitment by combining capital and current expenditure. While the announcement on capital investment through Project Ireland 2040 is welcome, there is no point in having stages without actors, galleries without art or exhibition spaces without exhibits. Will the Minister make a firm commitment to double expenditure on arts through current expenditure in the next seven years?

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