Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the steps he has taken to increase the usage of publicly funded arts centres; if he will ensure that these centres will be opened up to local groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10832/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Government Policy on Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy and my recently published Arts and Culture Plan, 2008. One of the stated objectives of this 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. 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 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.

My Department provides capital funding for arts and cultural venues under the ACCESS (Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme). Many local and community groups have received funding under this scheme. While we ensure, by means of a lien on the property, that the buildings are used for the purposes intended under the grant i.e. arts and cultural activities, the programming and usage of arts and cultural facilities is a matter for the owners and promoters of these venues and not a matter for my Department.