Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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205. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department continues to support various forms of the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17118/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

Primary responsibility for the promotion and financial support of the arts at all levels is devolved to the Arts Council. A grant of over €58 million has been provided to the Council in 2015 for this purpose. The Arts Council operates under the provisions of the Arts Act 2003, which provides, inter alia, that the Council is independent in the performance of its functions in funding the arts. Details of funding provided by the Council are available on its website at