Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if studies have been carried out into usage levels at publicly funded arts and entertainment venues or venues operated by publicly funded bodies; if his attention has been drawn to concerns by the Arts Council and Theatre Forum that such venues are under-utilised; if plans are in place to provide an additional Exchequer revenue stream as part of a local action plan to ensure that such venues remain operational and maximise usage including involvement of the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5157/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not have any role in the ongoing management or operation of arts venues that were developed with the assistance of its capital grants schemes, and accordingly does not have data on the usage of these venues.

The provision of revenue, as opposed to capital, funding for arts venues is a matter for the Arts Council, which is independent of my Department on a day to day basis. My Department's annual global subvention to the council takes account, in so far as is possible, of the council's estimates of its requirements for the year in question, which would include, in the normal course, the requirements of arts venues and organisations. I have no plans to establish an additional revenue stream of the kind suggested by the Deputy.