Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will protect the allocation of funding to the Arts Council and local authorities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54048/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Question refers 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.