Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the action he will take to encourage the arts at community level with particular reference to funding support for local groups with a proven record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37890/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the action he has taken or proposes to take to increase interest in the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37892/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 238 together.

I refer the Deputy to my answers in this House previously to this question and in particular to the policy as outlined in replies to Questions Nos. 114, 218 and 220 [2407/09, 2680/09 and 2682/09] answered together on 28 January 2009; Question No. 101 [16413/09] of 28 April 2009 and Question 23816 of 16 June 2009 last.

Government Policy on the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and further elaborated 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.

It is my aim to continue to implement this policy directly through my own Department and to support the Arts Council in its role, working within the financial and other resources available to me, into the future.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the action he has taken or proposes to take in response to the recent campaign by leading actors to promote the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37893/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have noted the concerns expressed recently by the artistic community in relation to the future funding of the Arts. The Government is currently considering the Estimates for Public Services for 2010 and in that context funding for the arts will be considered and divided.