Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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31. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will support the Labour Party’s budget campaign to retain the additional capital and current funding allocated for the 1916 Rising commemoration in the general arts budget from 2017 onwards to systematically restore funding to the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13682/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Funding across the public service, including that which could be provided for investment in culture and the arts, was severely impacted on by the economic crisis. However, since my initial appointment as Minister with responsibility for the arts, I have succeeded in securing increased funding for the sector year on year. The allocation for the Arts Council in 2016 is €60.1 million, an increase of 6% in the past two years. The allocation for the Irish Film Board in 2016, at almost €14.5 million, shows an increase of 3.6% from last year.

In terms of capital investment, in January I announced a new €9 million investment scheme for arts and cultural centres to run over the next three years, focused on upgrading the existing stock of such centres around the country. The funding is being made available as part of the capital investment framework 2016 to 2021. Significant refurbishment and expansion projects are also planned or under way at a number of the national cultural institutions, including the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Archives of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland.

A Programme for a Partnership Government contains an important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. I will be engaging with my colleagues in government and the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the forthcoming Estimates and budgetary processes.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I wish the Minister well in her brief. I asked if she would support the Labour Party's campaign to ensure the capital allocation for the 1916 Rising commemorations, which involve important work at cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Ireland, was maintained in future years as a national endowment for the arts. I do not know whether she is aware that salaries, for instance, in the arts are low, particularly among women. I am not sure whether she is aware that turf cutters receive more of a mention in the programme for Government than the arts sector. Given that the arts are so important to us as a nation, will she support the Labour Party's campaign to have the funding maintained as a national endowment to promote the expansion of the arts?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have already stated I want to retain as much as possible of the additional funding for commemorations in the 2016 budget for the cultural sector. It is something on which I am keen because there was significant investment in the arts during the recent 2016 commemorative programme. The arts were very much at the centre of the commemorative programme which has done a tremendous job in getting people more involved in the arts, not only in the cities but across the country. When one looks at the local authorities programmes, in every county there was involvement by the arts in the commemorative programme. In fact, I had the pleasure of attending one launch at which young schoolchildren acted out Ms Grace Gifford's marriage.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Has the Minister had discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance to maintain the funding, both capital and current, allocated for the 1916 Rising commemorations? The Minister has cited examples of good events which we all have attended, but we need a serious national endowment for the arts. They suffered disproportionately, partly because a lot of the funding was diverted by the Minister's predecessor to deal with the issues around turf-cutting. That is fine, but the funding diverted and the national endowment for the arts needs to be restored.

Recently, the Taoiseach attended a major event at the Kennedy Center in Washington where he praised the arts, given that it is our calling card when we go to the United States. However, as Lenny Abrahamson said, the arts are not just a photo opportunity for politicians, they are much more important for us as a people and in how we present ourselves to the world.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to increasing funding for the arts as the economy improves. We will have additional resources only if we maintain a growing economy through prudent economic management. The Deputy knows the budgetary process and I will make the case to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that-----

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Has the Minister met the Department yet?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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No, but I will do so and seek to hold on to as much as possible of the additional funding that was achieved for the 1916 Rising commemorations.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Will the Minister, therefodre, support the Labour Party's campaign?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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At least two weeks ago, I stated very clearly how successful the investment in the arts had been during the commemorations. We are on the same hymn sheet.