Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will support a matter (details supplied). [31956/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on increasing the funding to the Arts Council in advance of budget 2009; and his further views on the fact that Ireland ranks in the bottom third of all EU countries in terms of support for the arts per head of population and that funding levels fall far short of the €100 million identified by the council, and accepted by Government, as necessary to respond to demand from this sector. [32354/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; his plans to deal with the concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32387/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the action proposed or planned on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32388/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 424 to 426, inclusive, together.

It is the Government's responsibility to ensure that the arts and culture are well funded and placed at the centre of policy making in Ireland. To this end funding for the Arts and Culture sector has increased significantly in recent years. Funding for the Arts and Culture, which includes the Arts Council, the Film Board, Culture Ireland, the National Cultural Institutions and the capital arts infrastructure programme ACCESS (Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme) and the National Gallery is approximately €220m in 2008.

As Minister for Arts 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 2009 Estimates. In doing so, the Government must balance competing demands from all other sectors of our economy and society. Funding for the Arts Council has increased from €47.67m in 2002 to €81.6m this year –an increase of over 71%. 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.