Vol. 513 No. 3
255 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the level of resources required to enhance and develop the invaluable role of the arts in society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2261/00]
The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible or realistic to attempt to quantify this figure. The reality in this area as in many other areas involving Exchequer expenditure is that the level of demand can always be expected to exceed the resources that can actually be made available. However, the Arts Council's second arts plan covering the period 1999-2001 sets out a budget requirement of £100 million for its implementation over the period in question. The Government has approved the plan and I am providing the necessary funding to facilitate the Arts Council to implement the plan in full. I am also able to advise the Deputy that I have allocated resources from my Department's Estimate in 2000 towards the establishment, in conjunction with the music industry, of the music board of Ireland.
Under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, published in November 1999, the Government is committed to providing resources for the further development of the State's arts and culture infrastructure. I am currently developing a new capital scheme which will support regional, urban and community based projects as well as the redevelopment of existing cultural infrastructural facilities. I would hope formally to launch this initiative in the near future.
