Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he received a request for assistance, funding or administrative guidance for a group (details supplied) in County Kildare; the extent to which his Department has previously assisted in similar situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34231/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not received any request for funding from this group. Request for capital arts grants are normally dealt with under my Department's ACCESS (Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme) scheme; however this scheme is currently closed for applications.

Revenue funding for the arts is provided by the Arts Council and I would refer the Deputy to the Council's website www.artscouncil.ie for details of the Council's funding schemes.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the degree to which he has disbursed funding for the arts to date in 2008; the organisations, bodies, groups or agencies that have received such funding; the amounts which have gone directly to those involved in the promotion of the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34232/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Under the Arts Act, 2003, the general functions of the Council include the following:

to stimulate public interest in the arts;

to promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts;

to assist in improving standards in the arts.

The Arts Council is a statutorily independent body, funded by my Department and independent in its day-to-day operations, including in relation to its funding decisions.

Funding for the Arts Council has increased from €47.67 million in 2002 to €81.6 million in 2008 — 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 Department does provide some of current funding for the arts and six projects have been allocated grants totalling €555,000 in 2008. My Department also provides capital grants to arts organisations under the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS). ACCESS is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved access to and participation in the arts for large numbers of people nationwide. The scheme has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural spaces.

Facilities funded to date include integrated arts centres, theatres, galleries, studio, and creative and performance spaces. In this manner my Department provides the bulk of capital funding for building and refurbishing arts facilities around the country, mainly in the not for profit sector, while the Arts Council provides the ongoing revenue support for many of the facilities.

In 2008 16 projects were allocated funding under ACCESS, this comprised 13 ACCESS II reserve list projects and 3 other capital grants. These grants amounted to €17.39m in addition to grants allocated in previous years.