Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which it is intended to promote and increase visits and interest in historical and cultural sites throughout the country in the course of the current year and utilising the services of both the public and private sectors in the course thereof with consequent economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12821/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The National Cultural Institutions, which operate under the aegis of my Department, play a key role in increasing awareness of the value and benefit of cultural activities. Visitor numbers to our national cultural institutions and other cultural venues supported by my Department exceeded 3.6 million in 2011. This figure represents a moderate increase on the 2010 figure of 3.58 million and a significant increase over and above the 2009 figure of 3.25 million.

Initiatives to attract the interest of the general public and to enhance the visitor experience will remain a priority for all of these cultural institutions and venues in 2012 and my Department will continue to work closely with them in this regard. The quality and diversity of the cultural exhibits and events on offer at these institutions plays a key role in attracting such significant visitor numbers. In this regard, the funding provided by my Department to the cultural institutions is of critical importance in terms of the maintenance and preservation of existing collections and enhancing the calibre and range of the collections and exhibitions on offer.