Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht how he plans to maximise participation in the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29856/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Government policy on the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and aims 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 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; and

- to assist in improving standards in the arts.

The Arts Council is a statutorily independent body funded by my Department and is independent in its day-to-day operations, including in relation to its funding decisions. For 2011 the Exchequer allocation to the Arts Council is €65.127 million.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons employed in the arts; his plans for job creation in the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29879/11]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for sustained funding and job creation in the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29853/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total number of persons employed directly or indirectly in the arts at present; if he will endeavour to ensure that such numbers are retained or expanded, with particular reference to both the economic and cultural benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30139/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 62 and 292 together.

The arts and culture sectors continue to offer vital opportunities for the provision of important cultural, social and employment benefits to communities throughout the country. As the Deputies will appreciate, the nature of employment within the arts sector encompasses a very wide range of activities. Its scope can include those engaged in the arts practice within specific artistic genres and can also encompass areas which flow from such artistic pursuits. It may also embody the whole industrial creative sectors - the foundation of which lie in the pure arts areas. Accordingly, there are differentiated sets of figures which reflect the differing basis from which employment numbers are derived.

Using data compiled by DKM consultants in 2009, "Economic Impact of the Arts, Culture and Creative Sectors", which examined available statistics on the arts and culture sector, employment in the arts, culture and creative industries areas was demonstrated as being of the order of 170,000. It may be noted that this study took a wide definition of the arts and included part of the broad cultural and creative industries, including direct, indirect and induced employment numbers, and also took into account those employed, for instance, in the advertising sector, architecture, fashion and design, and cultural tourism.

The Government appreciates and values the contribution the arts sector makes to the internationally renowned artistic reputation of this country. Within the current economic constraints, that investment in the arts, culture and creative sectors is more important than ever, having regard to the employment intensity of the sector. In the context of the 2012 Estimates, I will, of course, be endeavouring to maximise continuing Government support for the arts.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role he sees for the arts in mental well-being; his efforts to see that potential realised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29865/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that I have no statutory responsibility in relation to mental health, which is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Health. However, the Deputy may find the www.artsandhealth.ie website of interest. This website is funded by the Arts Council, which is statutorily independent in its funding decisions.