Written answers
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
Arts Funding
9:00 pm
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will provide minimum guaranteed funding for the Arts Council, to be administered on a contestable basis within a multi-annual framework, that is, provide 50% of its funding on a multi-annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44013/10]
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the steps she is taking to secure adequate levels of funding for the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43962/10]
Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if her attention has been drawn to the implications of further cuts to the Arts Council's budget in view of the fact that funding was reduced from â¬84 million in 2008 to â¬69 million in 2010, a fall of 18%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44423/10]
Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 44 and 110 together.
Government Policy in this area is set out in the Programme for Government. This policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, and maximise the potential for cultural tourism.
The Government appreciates the importance of the arts, culture and creative industries to both our society and to our economy. I am conscious not only of the role of the sector in providing vital opportunities for self-expression and participation, but also of the economic potential of the arts and creative industries and in particular of providing conditions in which the creative industries can flourish. The Government is also committed to enhancing access to the arts for people of all ages and income levels.
I would like to acknowledge the concerns raised by the recent Campaign for the Arts and to reaffirm my commitment to maximising the position and status of the arts in society. The campaign helped to highlight the value, the importance and the contribution of the arts not only to the economy and to our social life, but also to the raising the national spirit. The arts help to define what we are, both as community and on the world stage. I intend to do everything in my power to build on the passion displayed by the campaign and to ensure the continued vitality of this sector.
The Government is committed to supporting the crucial constituent sectors of arts and culture within limited available financial resources. Decisions regarding funding, whether within my Department's Vote or on the part of other relevant Departments will, however, have to be taken in the context of the ongoing Estimates and budget preparation process and in the light of the target aggregate Exchequer savings to be achieved for 2011. It is not possible therefore to provide funding certainties for any specific elements of my Department's Vote.
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