Vol. 498 No. 4
362 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the supports, if any, her Department gives to collectors of Irish art who wish to retain and put on display valuable works that otherwise might go abroad in view of the increasing auction prices for these works. [27640/98]
363 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will make a statement on her policy on retaining Irish art within Ireland in view of the increasing prices being paid for Irish masterpieces. [27641/98]
364 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on the high prices being paid for Irish art; and her further views on the way in which Irish art of a particular merit can be retained here. [27642/98]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 362, 363 agus 364 le chéile.
While I am aware that art works of Irish origin can command significant prices on the art investment market, these prices are of course determined by market forces in the art world. Many of those placing bids for such art works are from Ireland. Grants are not provided to private collectors of art by my Department.
It is a core function of the National Cultural Institutions under the aegis of my Department to enlarge the national collections with relevant artwork within their own collection policies and within the amount of funding available for this purpose from the Exchequer, having regard to the overall resources available to them for this purpose and to prioritising by them within their resources.
