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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 5

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Arts Funding.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

4 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he intends to carry out a national survey to identify all the sources of funding for the arts in Ireland, to provide factual information to enable policy makers to assess the allocation and distribution for arts funding nationally.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

20 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he intends to carry out a national survey to identify all the sources of funding for the arts in Ireland, to provide factual information to enable policy makers to assess the allocation and distribution for arts funding nationally.

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. a 4 agus a 20 le chéile.

An Chomhairle Ealaíon is the main source of funding for the arts in this country and enjoys statutory independence in the disbursal of its funds. It is at present undertaking a significant amount of research on a number of projects in the arts sector and I understand that later in the year it will be publishing some results of this research. In addition, An Chomhairle is at present examining the possibility of establishing with private sponsorship an ongoing research programme in a third level institution. Should this project prove successful. An Chomhairle believes that detailed information on the operation of the arts sector, its funding and new mechanisms for such funding — taking account of international, and especially European, models — will be researched and the results made available to interested parties.

I welcome the Minister's reply — obviously steps are being taken to achieve what is suggested in the questions. Will the Minister agree that the present method of financing the arts is unsatisfactory in so far as funding is coming from too many disparate sources and it is impossible to determine priorities and policy for the arts? It is important that funding for the arts be put on a more firm basis if we are to form proper policy for the future. The worst thing that could happen——

I am sorry to interrupt the Deputy. I am most anxious to facilitate her——

I accept that.

——and to permit her to secure the utmost information from the Minister but she knows we must proceed by way of supplementary questions.

Will the Minister agree that first he must restore the amount of lottery funds initially envisaged for the arts when the national lottery was set up? The Minister and his Cabinet colleagues have a good deal of discretion in this respect.

I would welcome increased funding for the arts from whatever quarter. There is no problem with a proliferation of funding. The funding from the private sector is very welcome and I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Cothú which enables people to provide support for the arts in a professional manner.

There has been a significant increase in the level of funding for the arts even during my short time in office; the increase from the £10 million to £13.25 million is quite significant. This amount is not sufficient to enable me to do many of the other things I would like to do in this general area. I share the views of Deputies that increased funding should be made available.

On the question of study and research, the publication of the studies on which the Arts Council is engaged will clearly and unequivocally make the case that expenditure on the arts makes not only cultural sense but also very good economic sense in terms of the way the money is spent and what is achieved.

The Minister did not answer my question about the restoration of the level of lottery funding for the arts to that envisaged when the national lottery was first set up.

The Deputy will be aware that when the party was in Government it did not seek the establishment of a Ministry such as mine.

That was not my question.

No, but it is useful information and is valuable in terms of providing a context in which to interpret my answer. The Deputy's party in Government did not seek the establishment of a Ministry with responsibility for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht; it was happy to let arts remain on the periphery. Neither did it seek, as part of its programme for Government, the restoration of lottery funding to the level envisaged when the national lottery was set up.

In contrast, this Government made the arts a central focus and has increased funding. I can assure the Deputy that I will be seeking more funding for the arts so as to ensure that the level of funding is nearer that envisaged in the national lottery legislation.

The question asked the Minister if he thought it would be useful to carry out a national survey on all sources of funding for the arts. Is he satisfied that enough information is getting through to consumer groups about the various sources of funding available? Many groups, including choral and drama groups, experience difficulties in getting basic information about funding and do not know where to go to get it at national and European level.

The Deputy's suggestions are positive and valuable and I will consider them. In the past organisations such as CAFE, Creative Activity for Everybody, and others published valuable books which provided information on funding and gave the names and addresses of foundations. I am willing to look at the possibility of similar information being provided by my Department. The publication of the studies undertaken by the Arts Council will be of assistance in this respect. Even though all the studies may not be important, the study being carried out by Coopers & Lybrand on the economic impact of the cultural industries, which hopefully will be published in the autumn, will give us an opportunity to look again at this area.

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