Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to support touring; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland has many regional venues which have been funded by the ACCESS schemes which are frequently lying empty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24567/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Funding for touring is provided by the Arts Council. The Arts Council is statutorily independent under the Arts Act, 2003 and I have no role to play in its specific funding decisions. The Arts Council introduced a Touring Programme in late 2006 for which funding of €1.7m was made available in 2007. The Council has provided a further €757,000 in grants for touring in 2008. In addition and in the context of its 80th anniversary, the Department has provided €250,000 to the Gate Theatre in 2008 to part fund its 40 venue tour of "Waiting for Godot".