asked the Taoiseach the extent to which it is proposed to review his Department's expenditure on the Arts, as announced by him recently; and how the Arts Council will be involved in this review.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Expenditure on Arts.
9.
Following on requests for financial assistance from theatre enterprises other than the main theatres funded by An Chomhairle Ealaion, a small inter-departmental study group has been set up to consider the criteria and priorities that might be adopted if State assistance were to be given in such cases. An Chomhairle Ealaíon have not, as yet, been involved in this process but I have informed the chairman that this will be arranged in due course.
Would the Taoiseach indicate whether the Arts Council will be directly involved in this and indicate what their participation will be in this review and say, finally, when it is hoped to conclude the review?
I could not say because I announced this for the first time only last week. I made up my mind immediately before the summer recess to establish that committee. They have been meeting during the recess and in due course will be in touch with the Arts Council. I cannot give any dates at this stage.
Do I understand from that answer that having established the Arts Council on the present footing there will now be some process of review which will shift the primary interest back to the Taoiseach's Department and away from the Arts Council?
This is a study for my own information. The Deputy is probably as aware as any other Deputy and probably better than most, that the Arts Council have certain criteria beyond which they will not go in making assistance available. I have had numerous requests from sources that the Arts Council would not normally assist and I have recognised the need for some form of assistance for these areas. It is to that subject I have asked the committee to address themselves.
Would the Taoiseach not consider that this whole review is properly a matter entirely for the Arts Council and that the office of the Taoiseach has much more important things to do than setting up an independent review while the Arts Council are already in existence?
The Taoiseach has ultimate responsibility for the Arts Council.
The chairman of the Arts Council proposed eight months ago that a specific amount of money should be allocated to them over a three to five year period. The Taoiseach will recollect that I asked about this matter about eight months ago. Has he any further views on that?
The Deputy is aware that Estimates for all Departments are arranged annually and the practice in almost every case has been not to reduce the amount given to a particular Department or a particular section or agency of a Department in any succeeding year. Within that understanding, if it is an understanding, the Arts Council have made certain commitments to certain projects in advance. If that was the purpose of the Deputy's question, I think that has been achieved.