Síle de Valera
Question:105 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his views on the capital and current spending proposals in the Arts Council three-year plan. [7240/95]
Written Answers. - Arts Council.
The Deputy will be aware that, on 6 April last, this House heard a number of Statements on "The Arts Plan 1995-1997" which has been published by An Chomhairle Ealaíon. In my contribution to those deliberations, I made it clear that the plan has my strong endorsement and that I intend to pursue vigorously with my Cabinet colleagues the opportunity presented in it to develop the arts in a planned and strategic manner.
I should explain to the Deputy, however, that the funding levels sought in "The Arts Plan 1995-1997" mainly related to the current spending aspirations of An Chomhairle Ealaíon, with a small element only being earmarked for capital expenditure relating to refurbishment or essential repairs to existing arts infrastructure. My statement to the House on 6 April made it clear that, additionally, I have in excess of £67 million of Exchequer and EU funds at my disposal to fund arts and cultural capital infrastructure in the period to 1999. These funds will enable me to combine investment in arts infrastructure in our national cultural institutions based in Dublin, notably the National Museum, with a capital programme for the arts involving a strong regional emphasis.