Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the points the Deputy made about the Scene + Heard festival. What Government can do is support funding for the arts. That has happened in an unprecedented way again this year. The Minister, Deputy Martin, has secured €130 million for the Arts Council, €35 million for the basic-income-for-artists pilot scheme which will see 2,000 artists receive a payment of €325 per week for three years; €7 million for capital supports for artists' and climate adaptation, including a new €5 million scheme for local authority and not-for-profit bodies; €15 million to address the energy cost challenges; €6 million for the night-time economy, including €2 million for new capital supports; €2 million extra for Culture Ireland to promote Irish artists overseas and €500,000 to support measures developed in conjunction with the Irish Theatre Institute as part of the speak-up campaign. Specific funding decisions are made with an arm's-length principal. That has been underpinned in the Arts Act 2003 with regard to specific funding decisions.

I acknowledge the importance of the festival the Deputy referenced but it is a decision for the Arts Council.

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