Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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769. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the various local community-based festival groups such as musical and dramatic societies which have benefited from grant aid in the past 12 months through her Department or through the Arts Council; the extent to which she expects this to continue in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20817/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Most of my Department's arts and culture budget is allocated to the agencies under its remit. Within these allocations, the Arts Council is the primary State agency for funding the arts. I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council in Budget 2017 of €5 million, or 8%. Details of the Council's funding decisions can be found on its website at the following link

The Deputy might be also interested to know that Music Network recently announced the results of the Music Capital Scheme 2016. A total of €189,000 in funding from my Department has been awarded to 22 performing groups and 15 individual musicians. The Music Capital Scheme, supported by my Department and managed by Music Network, comprises two distinct awards that provide funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups and to professional musicians. Further details including the list of awards can be viewed at the following link: