Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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416. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider developing a long-term strategy for the classical arts here, including opera and ballet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36482/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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427. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grant aid may be available through his Department or the Arts Council to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare towards the development and production of ethnic and church gospel music. [36610/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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428. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grant aid maybe available through his Department or the Arts Council to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare toward the development and production of ethnic and church gospel music; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36732/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 416, 427 and 428 together.

The Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts, and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life.

The Deputies will be aware that responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels, including ballet, opera and music throughout the country, is devolved to the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations and my Department has no role to play in its executive or funding decisions. In a wider context, the Arts Council support of a range of arts forms is set out in its strategic overview document entitled Developing the Arts in Ireland: Arts Council Strategic Overview 2011-2013. In this strategy document, which is available on the Council's website, its work and key strategic principles that inform its funding decisions are laid out.

My Department operates a philanthropic initiative for arts and culture organisations. This is designed to encourage philanthropy, sponsorship and endowment of the arts from private sector sources. Details can be found on my Department's website www.ahg.gov.ie.