Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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746. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the cost of re-establishing Culture Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46108/15]

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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Culture Ireland was established in 2005 under my Department to promote Irish arts abroad. Following a review in 2012, the Government committed to maintaining Culture Ireland as a division of my Department and to expanding its remit to work on a cross agency basis to ensure maximum impact from investment in Irish arts. An Expert Advisory Committee has been established to guide and oversee this work.

Culture Ireland continues to operate effectively on this basis and the Deputy will be pleased to note that a budget of €5m is being provided for next year – a 100% increase over 2015. This will also enable Culture Ireland to present an international culture programme, entitled I am Ireland, to celebrate the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme globally.