Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position in relation to the need to maximise support for funding to the Arts Council and local government (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50584/12]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will give a commitment not to reduce current levels of funding given to The Arts Council of Ireland and local authorities as further cuts would result in job losses within the Arts sector here which currently employs 20,755 persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50739/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 175 together.

I assume that the Questions refer to general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. General purpose grants contribute towards meeting the reasonable cost to local authorities of providing services to their customers. In line with previous years, it is my intention to inform local authorities of their 2013 general purpose grant allocations following the announcement of Budget 2013. I will seek to contribute to the general purpose funding of local authorities to the maximum extent possible in 2013, having regard to the current pressures on the public finances and motor tax income.

It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities, including investment in the Arts, in the context of the annual budgetary process, having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.