Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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708. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to carry over funding for the 1916 commemoration to the general arts, culture and film programme to 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19717/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In 2016, once off funding of approximately €49 million was allocated to the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme under my Department comprising , approximately €18 million in current funding and €31 million in capital. I have retained the majority of the €18 million current funding for 2017 which is now part of the baseline for the Arts division of the Department, meaning it will be available for future years.

I have already announced increases in funding across a range of arts bodies under my Department's remit as part of Budget 2017.

This has included:

- An additional €5 million for the Arts Council, an 8% increase in its annual budget.

- Boosts in funding for all of the national cultural institutions;

- €1.5 million to facilitate the opening of the newly restored historic wings at the National Gallery of Ireland;

- An increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board and €1 million for Culture Ireland;

- Funding of €5 million for the implementation of the Creative Ireland Programme.