Vol. 565 No. 4
5 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if, in light of the severe proposed cuts to the Arts Council, funding to it in 2004 will be reinstated to the level envisaged for 2004 or as originally envisaged for 2003. [11175/03]
While funding for the Arts Council was reduced in 2003 from what was made available in 2002, it must be remembered that this 2002 figure followed an increase in funding of about 80% between 1997 and 2002. Given the pressures affecting all areas of Government expenditure for 2003, to achieve funding of more than €44 million for this year was a considerable achievement.
I will make the most effective possible case for adequate funding for 2004 for all the areas that fall within my remit, including the Arts Council. However, decisions on the amount of funding for the council in 2004 can only be taken within the context of the Estimates process and having regard to the state of the Exchequer finances at that time.
I wish to declare an interest under existing legislation. My brother, Fergal McGrath, is a former manager of the Galway arts festival and is manager of the Druid Theatre.
Government funding to the Arts Council in 2003 was €9 million less than the target of €53.79 million outlined for that year in the arts plan and a reduction of 8% on the €47.7 million provided in 2002. In light of the devastating effect these cuts have on many arts organisations, will the Minister assure the House that funding to the Arts Council in 2004 will be re-instated to the level envisaged for that year or at least that envisaged for 2003, plus an allowance for inflation?
On the appointment of the new Arts Council, under the new Arts Bill the number of members on the council will be reduced from 17 to nine. In these circumstances the make-up of the new council has never been more critical. Will the Minister, when making these appointments, take the opportunity to appoint an all-new council which avoids the traditional charges of geographical influences and which enjoys the confidence of the arts community, the Government and the public?
It will certainly be the objective to appoint an Arts Council which has the confidence of the Government, this House and the public and the respect of the arts community.
I have pointed out that the funding available to the Arts Council has increased substantially since 1997 and that this increase has been of the order of 80%. I accept that areas of the arts have suffered this year and I will certainly do all I can in the Estimates campaign in the autumn to convince the Minister for Finance that it is important to increase arts funding. Obviously, it is not possible for me to say at this remove whether my exertions will be successful but I will do my level best to ensure they are.
It is important to note that the arts plan, which was prepared by the council for the period 2002 to 2006, projected a total spend of €314 million over the period of the plan. That represents a very substantial increase in funding for the arts. The difficulty I face this year, and which other Ministers in different disciplines face, is that there was an economic downturn, which meant that the funding available across all Departments was not as plentiful as it had been in previous years. In such circumstances, regrettably, the Arts Council had to suffer a cut in its funding although its funding still represented an increase of 80% since 1997. We will do everything we possibly can to ensure we have an excellent Arts Council and that it is resourced as well as possible.
I thank the Minister for his response and hope the commitment he has made today is realised. Does he accept that the arts are making a magnificent contribution to the community? In particular, I refer to artists who do much creative work and who lift the self-esteem of the nation. Does he value their work and will he make a commitment to ensure they will get the maximum support over the next four to five years? Does he value the role of artists connected with the disabilities sector and the role art plays in assisting both children and adults with disabilities?
I agree strongly with the views expressed by Deputy Finian McGrath. That is why it is so important that we have a vibrant and well-resourced arts sector. It will be of interest that we will bring forward amendments to the Arts Bill shortly, which I hope will be passed during the next session of the Dáil and Seanad. It is my intention to try ensure that we will have sub-committees attached, on a temporary basis, to the Arts Council dealing with at least some of the items mentioned by the Deputy.
It is important that we recognise the role of arts in terms of disabilities and how the disabled can express themselves through art. In that respect, it is my intention to ensure that we have a sub-committee of the Arts Council dealing with education. This could also deal with the question of people with special needs. We should also ensure that the sub-committees of the council deal with other areas that require urgent attention, including the traditional arts and the arts in local auth orities, so we can deal with problems at the coal face.
