Máirín Quill
Question:1 Miss Quill asked the Taoiseach the proportion of arts grants which have been allocated last year (a) in the Dublin region and (b) in areas outside of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arts Grants.
An Chomhairle Ealaíon — the Arts Council — provide financial assistance to individuals and organisations involved in any of the art forms defined in the Arts Acts, 1951 and 1973.
The percentage breakdown in 1989 of the council's arts grants expenditure was as follows: organisations and individuals based in Dublin and whose operations are almost exclusively confined to Dublin city and county — 41 per cent; organisations based in Dublin city and county and whose operations extend throughout the country as well as Dublin — 27 per cent; organisations based in Dublin and whose operations are almost entirely outside Dublin — 5 per cent; and organisations and individuals whose base and operations are outside Dublin — 27 per cent.
As the Deputy knows, the Arts Council enjoy statutory independence in the disbursement of their funds. I have facilitated the work of the council by increasing their level of funding from £5.9 million in 1986 to £8.1 million in 1989.
I thank the Taoiseach for giving me that information. Would the Taoiseach accept that, in terms of arts funding, we now have a first world and a third world, the first being in Dublin where they get the lion's share of funding and the third world being the provinces where they get only a pittance? In Cork, for instance, the Opera House has had no subvention from the Arts Council for three years in a row. The Irish National Ballet was killed off by the Arts Council, and I am told in my investigations——
I am sorry to interrupt the Deputy but I must advise her that her question is essentially statistical and matters of policy should not arise therefrom.
I am told, in terms of statistics that the county of Carlow got no funding from the Arts Council. Does the Taoiseach in his capacity as Taoiseach and Minister for the Arts accept there is no spark of cultural or artistic life in the county of Carlow that is worthy——
The Deputy is raising specific matters worthy of separate questions.
(Interruptions.)
And it is hardly a week after St. Valentine's Day.
I remember recently going down to Carlow to open the Éigse, which is a very lively poetic function in Carlow. The Deputy understands that the Arts Council have statutory independence in these matters. If the Deputy studies the figures I have given she will not find them all that disproportionate.
Admittedly, in relation to organisations and individuals based in Dublin and whose operations are almost exclusively confined to Dublin city and county, the allocation is 41 per cent but thereafter the grants could be regarded as benefiting the whole country. In relation to Cork, I am informed that the Arts Council have been pursuing a policy of partnership with local authorities to varying degrees over the years, and that they are particularly anxious to develop the relationship with Cork Corporation to ensure a planned development of the arts in Cork. They have, in conjunction with Cork Corporation, established a working party for the preparation of an arts development plan. I can only suggest that I will convey the Deputy's comments to the Arts Council.
Would the Taoiseach accept, having told me that 27 per cent of arts council funding goes to touring groups based in Dublin, that these whistle-stop tours of the country have done little to revitalise the arts in the provinces and are little more than an expression of cultural imperialism from Dublin, and that they are not the best way——
I must repeat this is essentially a statistical question. I am calling Question No. 2.
(Interruptions.)
What else did you say in Kanturk?
Will the Taoiseach clarify precisely who makes the decisions about the disbursement of funds for the arts? Is it the Arts Council, without outside influence, or is it the Taoiseach's Department? I know the Taoiseach has said before he has no hand in it but it is not yet clear to ordinary people.
Order, Deputy Currie is offering.
I am very glad to confirm to Deputy Barry that the Arts Council are completely and totally independent in the exercise of their functions.
And they will spend all their funds as they see fit?
While the Deputy from Cork might welcome the assurance of the Taoiseach in relation to the partnership he talked about, will she bear in mind that this might also come under the category of a temporary little arrangement?
Question No. 2 please.