John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to ensure continued investment in the arts, including the allocation of funding to the Arts Council and local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50278/12]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will ensure that funding for the Arts is protected in the upcoming budget. [50302/12]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will support continued investment in the Arts as part of a jobs creation measure (details supplied). [50454/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 186, inclusive, together.

Government policy on the arts is set out in the Programme for Government . As Minister responsible for the arts and culture sectors, I am committed to securing the best possible funding provision for them during my term of office.

Government 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. Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, which, under the Arts Acts, is independent in its funding decisions. In 2012, the Arts Council received an allocation of over €63 million – a curbing of the budgetary decline of previous years.

The Government appreciates the importance of the arts, culture and the creative industries to both our society and to our economy. I am fully aware of the challenges for those involved in the arts and culture sectors and of the tremendous work they are doing. I am committed to supporting the essential elements of the arts and culture sectors, within the available financial resources and in the light of the evolving budgetary and Estimates processes.