Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason a company (details supplied) which represents a voiceless minority has not been given funding for 2007 in view of the successful work carried out by the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11632/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Government support for the Arts is generally channelled through the Arts Council, which is a statutorily independent body, under the Arts Act, 2003, and is independent in its day-to-day operations, including in relation to its funding decisions. I have no role in relation to its funding decisions. During my own term as the Minister responsible for the arts, funding for the Arts Council has increased by almost 68% from €47.67 million in 2002 to €80 million in 2007. These are significant amounts of money in any context and have transformed and increased access to the arts and allowed the Arts Council to support artists and arts organisations nationwide.