Seanad debates
Thursday, 21 November 2002
Book of Estimates, 2003: Statements.
I saw the Arts Plan 2002-2004 for the first time today. It is a good document and cost a lot of money to draw up. It contains specific costings which detail funding over the five year period of the plan. Last year, the Government spent €48 million on the arts; it is proposed in the Book of Estimates to spend €44 million this year, a significant reduction of €4 million. It is all the more significant when it is considered that the arts plan projected that €54 million was needed for this year to keep the plan going. Is this another Government report that will be shelved in the context of the cutbacks the Minister for Finance proposes?
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