Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Arts Centre Funding.

Liz McManus

Question:

575 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the fact that arts centres around the country such as the Courthouse Arts Centre in Tinahely, County Wicklow, are desperately in need of funding; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the delay in the new Arts Plan 2002-2006 is seriously disrupting the Arts Council's commitments to client organisations; if the necessary legislation will be brought before Dáil Éireann as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9075/02]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The levels of funding available to the arts council have increased dramatically since I took office as Minister in 1997. To start with, I obtained £26 million for the council in 1998, which allowed it to complete the then current arts plan a year earlier than anticipated. I then secured £100 million, €126.97 million, for the implementation of the second arts plan from 1999-2001. The amount secured by me for the Arts Council in 2002 is over 80% more than what was provided in 1997.

While issues in relation to specific cases will always arise, the arts is now far better provided for than before I took office. The Arts Plan 2002-2006 sets out the Arts Council's priorities for the years of the plan, along with projected costs. The plan is under consideration in my Department. Legislation does not arise in this context.

As with any Department, the funding available to my Department is subject to the annual Estimates process and therefore the amounts that can be made available to the council for any particular year of the plan can only be confirmed on an annual basis. The allocation available for 2002 has been known to the Arts Council for some considerable time.