James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide additional funding for the arts in County Longford, to bridge the gap between the Arts Council funding and local authority funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1644/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Government policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, to 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. Under statute I may not intervene in its funding decisions. In 2013, the Arts Council will receive an allocation of some €60.7 million in current, capital and EU Presidency funding.

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. My Department does not have any funding available to it to provide additional current funding in Co. Longford. However, I am pleased that my Department was able to provide funding for capital expenditure to the Backstage Theatre under the Access II scheme.