William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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531. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures his Department is putting in place to ensure that grant schemes for the arts and culture sector, including performance, visual arts, and international promotion, remain sufficient and accessible in the face of rising operational costs and inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63440/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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My Department has overseen a very significant growth in funding for arts and culture in recent years. Budget 2026 will maintain and increase funding across a wide range of key initiatives. On 7 October I announced the details of €1,514,678,000 in funding allocated to my Department which will see increases across all areas, with a total 9.5% rise across the Department.

The Department’s Arts and Culture programme aims to support and develop engagement with, and in arts, culture and creativity by individuals and communities thereby enriching lives through cultural and creative activity; to promote Ireland's arts, culture and creativity globally; and to drive a more vibrant and diverse Night-Time Economy.

In Budget 2026, I confirmed that I will bring a successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme to Government later in 2026 with the intention of embedding a permanent basic income in the Arts and Culture sector. I also announced an increase of 10% in Culture Ireland's 2026 allocation bringing their total allocation to a record level of €8.8m. Screen Ireland 2026 allocation increased by €2.1 million to support the development of new strategies to grow the gaming and special effects sectors in Ireland and to increase support to the indigenous and incoming screen industry. Other initiatives include an additional allocation of €600,000 to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann who celebrate their 75th Anniversary and €1 million in funding, double the 2025 allocation, for the 2026 round of the Grassroots Music Venue Support scheme to support independent music venues and artists across the country. Support also continues for Creative Ireland and the National Cultural Institutions.

In regard to the Arts Council, I have maintained record funding of over €140 million for the agency in 2026. The final allocation will be set out in the 2026 Revised Estimates Volume. The Arts Council invests in artists, organisations and arts infrastructure through competitive funding schemes and their funding supports artists and organisations.