Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has proposals to offer financial support to any of the arts groups, musical or dramatic societies throughout County Kildare which have sought assistance in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41838/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which he proposes to encourage participation in the arts in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41839/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his proposals for the development and promotion of the arts throughout County Kildare in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41840/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 176, inclusive, together. Government Policy on the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and is elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy. 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.

Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country, including Kildare, 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 supports many arts organisations in Co. Kildare. However, the Council is statutorily independent, under the Arts Act 2003, in their funding decisions and I have no role to play in their grant allocations.

My Department has taken a direct role in relation to the provision of capital grant-aid for arts and culture infrastructure and has allocated over €150m in funding for the capital development of facilities around the country in recent years. Funding for new arts facilities is primarily provided through the Arts Capital Programme (previously known as ACCESS — Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme). The Arts Capital Programme is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved participation in the arts for large numbers of people, of all ages, nationwide. The scheme has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural spaces. Funding has been provided towards integrated community art centres, theatres and galleries as well as art studios and other art production, creative and performance spaces.

Two applications were received from Kildare under the current scheme (ACCESS II). These were assessed by an independent selection committee who made recommendations to the Minister. One of the two applicants in Kildare was successful under ACCESS II.

All of the available funds under the current Arts Capital Programme have been fully allocated. In the present economic climate there are no immediate plans to launch a new Arts Capital Programme. Applications for any new scheme would be invited by public advertisement and details would also be available on the Department's website.