Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available for developing cultural links with other countries and more specifically India; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54569/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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There is a Cultural Agreement in place between Ireland and India, which was signed in January 2006. Under the terms of the Agreement, closer relations and understanding between both countries will be promoted and developed in the fields of art, culture, archaeology, education, including activity in the fields of science and technology, audiovisual matters, tourism and sports. The Culture Ireland Division of my Department promotes Irish arts worldwide and operates a quarterly grant round under which applications for events are considered from Irish artists and international hosts. My Department has a budget of €3.56m in 2012 for such activities. Ireland regards India as a priority country for cultural cooperation and I remain committed to promoting Irish cultural activity in India.