I move:
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £5,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1973, for a grant (grant-in-aid) to An Chomhairle Ealaíon.
This Supplementary Estimate is required to enable the grant-in-aid to An Chomhairle Ealaíon to be increased by £5,000. The Department of the Taoiseach is responsible for making funds available each year to enable it to carry out its function under the Arts Act, 1951. The amount provided for An Chomhairle Ealaíon in this year's Estimate was £80,000. The £5,000 extra is necessary to enable An Chomhairle Ealaíon to meet outstanding commitments incurred during the year. A draft Bill has been prepared by the Department of the Taoiseach on the reorganisation of An Chomhairle Ealaíon. This Bill will provide for wider powers than An Chomhairle Ealaíon have at present, and it is hoped that when the Bill becomes law responsibility for subsidising cultural organisations will come entirely under the aegis of An Chomhairle Ealaíon. This will involve, of course, a much larger annual grant-in-aid.