Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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74. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views that arts funding as a proportion of gross domestic product is too low, given its social, cultural and economic importance; and if it should be increased to at least European Union levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43503/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Expenditure on the arts in Ireland comes from multiple sources, both public and private. I understand that the CSO does not produce national statistics that capture the totality of this expenditure as a percentage of GDP. My Department’s expenditure on the arts is, in the main, directed through the Arts Council. That expenditure is published annually in the Revised Estimates Volumes at . The issue of capturing public and private expenditure in this area has been one which arose during the public consultation process which I put in place for the development of Ireland's first national cultural policy, Culture 2025 . This will be reflected in the policy document which I will publish early in the New Year.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the measures she is taking to improve the working environment for artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43500/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland. The Arts Council is the main mechanism through which the Government directs funding to the arts and to artists. The Council provides significant support to individual artists through bursaries as well as individual grants. It also funds means-tested payments to members of Aosdána. The Arts Council recently published its new Strategy Statement: Making Great Art Work. This sets out the Council’s plans to lead the development of the arts in the decade to 2025 and prioritises two policy areas – the artist and public engagement.The work of the Film Board, which my Department funds, is also a significant support for creative workers in Ireland. This sector is also supported by the improved tax incentive system introduced by this Government.

This year, as part of Budget 2016, I was pleased to announce a 12% increase in allocations across a range of areas, including the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, and a new investment programme for regional arts and cultural centres. There will be significant benefits accruing for artists and creative workers from many of the Ireland 2016 programmes supported by this additional funding, including at an international level.

I was also particularly pleased that the Government introduced a 25% increase in the ceiling for the Artists Exemption from 2015. This important measure recognises the invaluable contribution which artists make to Irish society. The feedback available to me indicates that artists very much welcome the increase in the exemption limits. The scheme ensures that Ireland continues to be a place where the work of artists is valued.

My Department continues to work with other Departments to promote the cultural and creative industries within the framework of the Government’s overall objectives under the Action Plan for Jobs.

Finally, the place of artists in society has been a significant theme arising from the public consultation process, which I put in place for the development of Ireland's first national cultural policy, Culture 2025. This will be reflected in the policy document which I will publish early in the New Year.