Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he, independently, will offer grant aid to community based groups involved in musical or theatrical productions thereby encouraging the promotion and development of the arts at local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5721/07]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the development of community arts facilities forms part of his development strategy for the sector; the initiatives he is considering; the way such initiatives will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5540/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent of the discussions he has had with persons involved in the promotion of the arts at local level with a view to establishing local theatres to accommodate the needs of various musical and dramatic societies or groups who have continuously put on shows at local level but who have very often difficulty with accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5932/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 29 and 111 together.

The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Under the Arts Act, 2003, the general functions of the Council include the following:

to stimulate public interest in the arts;

to promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts;

to assist in improving standards in the arts.

My Department has no function in deciding on the extent of Arts Council funding for particular projects or locations. Indeed, the Arts Act, 2003, underpins the Council's independence in this context. I am delighted to have secured €80m in funding in 2007 for the Arts Council.

My Department provide capital grants directly for arts and culture infrastructure around the country. The main vehicle for such capital funding is the Arts & Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS), under which almost €43 million was provided to 40 arts and cultural facilities around the country. This scheme commenced in 2001. Many projects have been completed and the remainder are in the course of completion.

Applications under the second round of the ACCESS scheme are currently being assessed by an independent Selection Committee. The Committee expects to provide me with recommendations by March 2007 and I hope to make an announcement regarding the second round of the scheme shortly thereafter.

Funding of €81m in total is available under the ACCESS programme over the life of the National Development Plan, 2007 to 2013. The funding offered to applicants under the second round of ACCESS will ultimately be determined by the quality and scope of the projects currently being assessed.

In addition to ACCESS, almost €53m in capital has been awarded to other arts and cultural projects in 2004, 2005 and 2006. These projects, while not formally part of the ACCESS scheme, are managed in the same way as the ACCESS projects and the same policy objectives apply.