asked the Minister for Finance if he has any plans to grant State aid towards the Arts; and if he will make a general policy statement in relation to the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Aid for Arts.
14.
In my financial statement to Dáil Éireann on the 1967 Budget, I promised to consider how the State's aid to the Arts could be improved. An Chomhairle Ealaíon has been responsible for this work in recent years and they have been successful to a degree out of all proportion to the funds at their disposal. It is clear, however, that the range of their functions, in attempting to cater for all the different arts, is too wide in the light of many different pressures for priority for different sectors. A careful study of the problem has convinced me that the most effective arrangement is to introduce a Bill to replace the existing Comhairle Ealaíon with three new councils as follows: one for the visual Arts; a second for drama and literature; and a third for music, opera and ballet.
Each council will have the responsibility of stimulating public interest in, improving standards and promoting the appreciation and practice of, its own particular group of arts. I hope to persuade persons of known qualifications and interest in the various artistic fields as well as the existing members of An Chomhairle Ealaíon to act as members of the new councils and I intend to make reasonably adequate funds available to ensure that their work will be effective.
I shall make a fuller statement to the House on these matters when introducing the necessary amending legislation.
Is it proposed that the new councils will be in a sense subcommittees of An Chomhairle Ealaíon?
No.
They will be ex aequo with An Chomhairle Ealaíon?
No, there will be only three councils.
You are going to drop An Chomhairle Ealaíon and substitute these three?
There will be three councils instead of the existing one.