Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department encourages the promotion of traditional music and song with particular reference to the need to encourage Irish artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31946/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts, including the traditional arts, throughout the country is devolved by statute to the Arts Council. The Council is funded by my Department and is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations, including funding decisions. In 2014, the Arts Council received an allocation of almost €57 million. Funding for the traditional arts is available through most Council schemes. In addition, there is the Deisscheme and the Traditional arts commissioning awardwhich are specifically targeted at the traditional arts. Details of all funding provided by the Arts Council to arts practitioners, arts groups and venues, including arts centres, are available on the Council's website at .In addition to the Arts Council’s role, my Department funds a number of traditional arts organisations directly. These are Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann and the National Folk Theatre at Siamsa. Both these organisations play significant roles in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture.