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

The funding breakdown remains a matter for discussion with the council and we are in ongoing discussion with it. The precise breakdown of the €5 million remains under consideration but we have stated it includes €1.25 million in additional funding to enhance the work of the council to support performing artists, art festivals, street arts and family events. This funding also includes €3.75 million reallocated from within the Department's existing Vote. It will further underpin the council's role, particularly regarding Culture Night and creative schools. Details of this allocation, as I said in my initial reply, will be finalised in the context of the Revised Estimates Volume, which will be published later this year.

In general, the Arts Council, where possible, should be delivering all initiatives relating to the arts. That would allow the council to ensure interventions in the arts sector are complementary to each other and are delivered as a strategic whole. There may be occasions where this is not straightforward to achieve, for example, where we are engaged in cross-cutting or interdisciplinary initiatives to support broader creative objectives such as under the Creative Ireland programme.

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