Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the likelihood of the introduction of multi-annual funding in Budget 2009 for the Irish Sports Council and the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17663/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The funding of the Irish Sports Council and the Arts Council, as with all Departments and State agencies, is a matter for consideration under the annual Budget and Estimates process. Under this process, the Government must balance competing demands from every part of our economy and society. My Department, like all other Departments, is provided with its annual expenditure budget through the Estimates process.

Since 2002, when my Department was founded, funding for the Arts Council has increased by 72% from €47.7 million in 2002 to €82.1 million in 2008. Over the same period funding for the Irish Sports Council has increased by over 100% from €28.7 million in 2002 to €57.6 million in 2008. The Government's commitment to both arts and sport is evidenced by these substantial increases in funding.