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

The Deputy referred to a 6% increase in current expenditure but it was actually 7%, from €248.659 million to €265.159 million. The Deputy also mentioned a 39% increase in capital expenditure but it was actually a 36% increase. It went from €54.3 million to €73.8 million. There was a significant increase there. The gross Vote allocation for 2019 was just under €339 million, which is an increase of 12% on the 2018 Estimate. Of this allocation, €73.8 million was capital funds and €265.1 million was current expenditure.

On the artists, it is fair to say that there was a significant difference between 2018 and 2019, which the Deputy acknowledged in her question. We increased funding to the Arts Council by 10%, from €68 million to €75 million. The Arts Council is ultimately tasked with looking after the artists on the ground. We have also had many other significant projects this year such as the Per Cent for Art scheme and the extension of the package for social welfare. The Government is committed to helping the artists. I will do everything I can to secure as much as I can for the artists in this budget.

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