Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for outlining the good work done by the Arts Council. The moneys my Department has given to it have increased significantly in the past few years and I will be endeavouring to obtain as much as I can this year. It is important to stress, however, that the spend in 2008 was probably unsustainable. While I am endeavouring to ensure I will get as much funding as I can, it is important that we remember the context. The national development plan is limited to capital investment and does not consider current funding for artists and arts organisations which is distributed by the Arts Council.

That said, there are vital links between the Arts Council's work and the delivery of my Department's culture and creativity investment programme under the plan. It is important that we support the artists on the ground. They are the people who need our assistance most. That is something very close to my heart in my role as Minister, but there is an arm's length principle in that regard. I have to try to secure as much as I can for my Department to implement our commitment to double funding over the next seven years, and within that will be an allocation to the Arts Council. I will do all I can to endeavour to do that.

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