asked the Taoiseach if he has recently received proposals from the Arts Council concerning the amount of funds being received by this council; if so, if he has considered them; his attitude towards increasing the allocation to the Arts Council; and if he will make a general statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arts Council.
1.
The expenditure proposals for 1978, which were recently submitted to my Department by An Chomhairle Ealaíon, are under consideration.
The annual Estimates Volume for 1978, which it is intended to publish in January next, will show the amount of the grant-in-aid to An Chomhairle Ealaíon for that year.
In the proposals that the Taoiseach's Department received from the Arts Council I believe a request was made for a commitment from the Government to cover a period of three years. May I ask the Taoiseach if his Government are prepared to give a commitment to cover a three-year period to help reduce the high level of borrowing by the Arts Council? Is the Taoiseach prepared to give such an undertaking to the Arts Council?
It is normal for organisations like the Arts Council, whether they be voluntary or semi-State, to make representations to the Government or to the Minister responsible for their activities seeking increased allocations in respect of the forthcoming financial year, but it is not the practice to indicate in advance publicly what will be contained in the Book of Estimates. I assure the Deputy that the Arts Council have made representations to have their allocation for the next year increased, and as far as I am concerned that is being considered sympathetically. I cannot say at this stage that I can possibly give the undertaking to cover that expenditure for a three-year period. That has not been the normal practice.
Arising out of the Taoiseach's very helpful reply may I ask him if, in view of the fact that an increase was given to the Arts Council last year on the previous year, he is aware that there has been a reduction in the number of festivals that come under the jurisdiction of the Arts Council because they are heavily reliant on borrowing——
That is a separate question.
——and their costs have increased but their revenue has not. Would the Taoiseach consider meeting some people and, after considering the proposals, try to ensure that adequate arrangements are made to cover a longer period than one year? The one-year period is not sufficient because of their very high outlay and costs.
I have indicated already that the organisations which receive subventions from Government sources are active about this time every year in relation to their own expenditure and the estimates they hope to receive to cover that expenditure. It is not very helpful that we should debate their representations or aspirations in public in advance of the allocations being made. However, I assure the Deputy that I, in common with my colleagues, am anxious to procure as much as possible for those organisations which come under the aegis of our respective Departments.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he is in favour in principle of such a body as the Arts Council planning ahead for a period of longer than one year?
I certainly am but unfortunately our public finances have not been so organised in this respect as to allow for firm commitments to be made longer than one year in advance. It is generally assumed, and it has been the practice, that in almost every case these organisations receive more in subsequent years than they do in the preceding years.
Would the Taoiseach feel that it is possible for them to plan on more than a one-year basis unless they have at least an indication of their financial commitment over a more than one-year period?
That is a separate question. We are getting far from the original question.
We are getting into general fiscal policy at this stage. I do not object to the idea promoted by the Deputy because I think it is a good one; nevertheless we will have to see if it can be worked out in practice.
In the report——
Deputy, we are not going to have a debate on this.
I have one final question. In the report from the Arts Council the chairman pointed out that there was a serious danger of decline in the standards of the Arts Council and the bodies which come under them, and because of this what is outlined in regard to planning ahead is essential. Does the Taoiseach agree that there is a danger of decline in the standards?
Reasoned argument can bring response and co-operation. What appears to be pressurised argument might well be met with resistance. I will put it no further than that.
(Interruptions.)