Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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283. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the funding available to her Department to meet requirements in the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24448/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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2015 was the first year in many years that there is growth in current funding for my Department. Additional funding was announced in Budget 2015 for a number of key targeted initiatives in my Department. These include:

- €2m in additional funding for the Arts Council;

- €2m in additional funding for the National Cultural Institutions;

- €1m in extra funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta;

- €1m in additional funding for peatlands restoration; and

- a new €4m current allocation for the Decade of Centenaries Programme in 2016.

In order to ensure that the best use is made of limited financial resources and to provide a basis for a sustainable approach to the public finances, the Government has periodically embarked on detailed Comprehensive Reviews of both current and capital expenditure. The objectives of these reviews has been to re-set Ministerial expenditure ceilings in line with emerging Government priorities and to provide the basis for the Government's multi-annual budgetary framework.

My Department's allocations since it was established reflect the outcome of the Comprehensive Reviews of Current Expenditure (CRE) carried out in 2011 and again in 2014 and the Review of Capital Expenditure carried out in 2011. A further review of capital expenditure is due to be completed shortly. While the funding adjustments in the period up to 2014 have posed challenges, my Department has continued to support arts and culture, maintain our built and natural heritage, develop our language and Gaeltacht areas, and support island communities and the North South Implementation Bodies under its aegis to the greatest possible extent. In doing so, it has sought to support employment, achieve compliance with EU Directives and support the ongoing implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements.