Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of projects that are running here under the reative economy programme; the location at which they are based and the funding headings; the numbers that are employed in projects under this programme; the amount of funding that has been accessed for Ireland through the fund; his plans to secure further funding; the way he communicates the funding to community groups around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12266/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he can facilitate directly or through the various arts and cultural organisations throughout the country access to specific EU funding for the promotion of festivals throughout Europe having particular regard to the fact that such festivals at local and national level have the capacity to generate considerable positive economic activity resulting in job creation directly and indirectly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12812/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent in which he has sought and or received information from the authorities at EU level with a view to obtaining increased support for the various festivals established or being established throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12813/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 299, 303 and 304 together.

I propose to answer Question Nos 299, 303 and 304 together. At present, there are two EU programmes operating within the areas for which I have responsibility:

1. The Media Programme is the EU support programme for the European audiovisual industry and details are available at www.mediadeskireland.ie ; and

2. The Culture Programme is the EU support programme for organisations working in the field of culture and details are available at www.ccp.ie.

Discussions are currently underway between the Member States and the European Commission on a new framework programme for the cultural and creative sectors. This will run from 2014 to 2020 and be called the Creative Europe Programme. It includes a proposal to amalgamate the current Culture and MEDIA programmes under a common framework and create an entirely new facility to improve access to finance. A budget of some €1,800 million is mooted for the new programme but it is not finalised yet. Annual funding for arts festival is provided in the main by the Arts Council, to which the statutory responsibility is devolved.