Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will increase the Arts Councils budgetary allocation to bring it into line with the average per capita spending on the arts in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21443/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the Arts Council's request for €100 million in funding for 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21723/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of money given to the Arts Council for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21725/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 to 323, inclusive, together.

As Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism I am committed to securing the best possible funding for the Arts Council and the arts sector generally. The Arts Council's funding requirement for the year ahead will be addressed in the context of the 2008 Estimates. In doing so, the Government must balance competing demands from every part of our economy and society.

Funding for the Arts Council has increased from €47.67 million in 2002 to €80 million in 2007 — an increase of almost 68%. These are significant amounts of money in any context. This funding has transformed the arts, increasing access to and participation in the arts, and has provided an excellent platform for future development.

My policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts and make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life.

The table below shows the funding provided to the Arts Council between 1997 and 2007.