Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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63. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will restore funding for the arts to pre-2011 levels; if she is satisfied with her Department's role in supporting the arts and in particular the allocation of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13259/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Funding across the public service was severely impacted by the economic crisis, including the funding which could be provided to bodies such as the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board.

Since my initial appointment as Minister with responsibility for the arts, however, I have succeeded in securing increased funding for the arts sector year on year. For example, the allocation to the Arts Council in 2016 is €60.1m, an increase of 6% over the past 2 years.

The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. I can assure the Deputy that I will be engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the forthcoming estimates and budgetary processes.