Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the initiatives he has undertaken to provide spaces and funding for ethnic minority communities to develop their cultural expressions and participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10840/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his proposals for the development of the arts at local and community level, directly or through subsidiary agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10999/08]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding available to support arts in disadvantaged and marginalised areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10833/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will take particular initiatives to promote interest and participation in the arts at community level notwithstanding the procedures and bodies already in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11166/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 23, 34 and 121 together.

Government Policy on the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy and in my recently published Arts and Culture Plan, 2008. Government Policy on Sports is also set out in the Programme for Government and elaborated on in our Statement of Strategy. In 2008, almost €245m is available from my Department for arts and culture activities, and €41m of that is earmarked for regional arts and culture infrastructure. In the area of sports, this year's allocation is over €311m, of which €77.5m is allocated for arts facilities at regional and local level.

One of the stated objectives of the Government's Arts policy is to encourage and support the strategic development of the arts in local communities, both geographic and communities of interest, for the disadvantaged and for minority groups. That policy also aims to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. Consequently, all funding allocated by my Department to the arts is aimed at, inter alia, addressing the issues of cultural participation, access and social inclusion. The Arts Council, which is the primary vehicle for the day to day funding of the arts, carries through that ethos.

The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body responsible for encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and for increasing participation in recreational sport. The ISC's basic philosophy is, therefore, one of inclusion and its Statement of Strategy recognises the potential of sport to be a driver for social change dealing with issues such as exclusion and social inequality. All sports organisations funded by the ISC, including National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), are encouraged to target all sections of society in seeking to increase participation in sport. Examples of LSP programmes which promote social and cultural inclusion are the Travteen Sports Programme in Donegal, the Increasing Traveller Participation in Sport initiative in Offaly and the Physical Activity For Women Of International Community in Kildare. In addition, the ISC is also involved, directly and indirectly, in a number of successful initiatives that seek to encourage cultural inclusion. Typically, these programmes are funded through the National Programme Against Racism (NPAR) administered by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

One of the six key programmes for the Year of Intercultural dialogue is focusing on interaction and participation in the arts in Ireland as a tool to help stimulate interaction and dialogue including music, theatre, poetry and participation of arts institutions. The role of the arts in promoting intercultural dialogue is widely acknowledged as a key mechanism for promoting interaction, understanding and collaboration. In particular, during the Year a national intercultural arts strategy will be developed including a specific action plan by the Arts Council for the arts in Ireland. This action plan will include a range of strategic initiatives, including development of an intercultural dimension to some key mainstream arts funding initiatives.