Vol. 568 No. 3
8 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with members of the board of the Theatre Forum regarding the concerns of the impact of current funding policy on the arts. [16136/03]
35 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by those involved in the arts at the impact of current funding policy on the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16137/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 35 together.
The meeting with Theatre Forum, as with the many other meetings I have had with individuals and groups from the arts sector, served to give me a real and practical sense of the impact of current economic circumstances on the sector. While it is clear that no sector can be immune from current economic reality, I will certainly advocate the case for funding the arts sector as effectively as is possible in the context of the Estimates for 2004 and subsequent years.
Does the Minister agree that the cutback to the Arts Council has the effect of passing on costs to the Exchequer given that many performing arts companies have not been in a position, due to lack of funding, to provide their programme of entertainment for a particular year? Many actors and actresses are unemployed and have to be paid by the Exchequer in the form of social welfare payments. It also affects the development of the arts in rural areas and in many towns, such as Portlaoise and other areas, which have wonderful theatres, as the performing groups do not have the funds to provide entertainment. The development of the arts is vital given that many groups do not wish to come to the city, for whatever reason. Due to the lack of funding and the cutbacks to the Arts Council, they cannot be facilitated. Can anything be done to rectify the problem?
The previous Government endorsed the principles upon which the arts plan is based and the Government stands by that endorsement. However, there was never any guarantee of Government approval for this specific annual target included in the plan by the Arts Council. From the Government's perspective, it was always utterly clear that the phasing of the plan and the funding that could be provided in any given year would have to be addressed through the normal annual Estimates campaign. That is how it is with every Department.
The decision to enter into a multi-annual funding arrangement was made by the Arts Council and not by the Government. Government fund ing for the Arts Council was always subject to an annual Estimates process and there has been no change. It would be silly of me to allege that funding cutbacks, however unavoidable they may be, have a positive effect on any sector and I do not propose to do that. The funding available to the Arts Council in 2002 represents an 80% increase over the 1997 level of funding and the decrease of 8% in 2003 must be viewed against this tremendous increase over the previous five years. Part of the problem is that during the good times structures change, employment levels increase, venues multiply and so on. When the financial tap flows less freely it can be quite traumatic to retrench and difficulties of this kind have arisen. The argument could be made that if increases were not so generous in good times, the bad times could be handled more easily. However, I would still argue that we have a right to be generous during the good years. My ambition is to fight as hard as I possibly can to ensure improved funding for the Arts Council next year. That is a debate for another day between the Minister for Finance and me.
I remind the Minister that in the third arts plan the target for 2003 was €53.79 million, yet the amount allocated in the Estimates was €44 million, a reduction of €9 million. Is the Minister aware that most arts groups base their work practices on multi-annual funding over a period of three years and have been encouraged to do so? Due to the expectation of increased funding they have employed people, embarked on certain educational programmes and set out their targets but as a result of the reduction in funding, they cannot proceed. Is the Minister aware that a number of arts groups around the country have slashed their educational programmes and are not touring? For example, Ballet Ireland is almost decimated as its funding was cut by approximately 70%. A range of groups has been affected by the cut in the allocation and also by the community employment scheme. Given that there has not been a major drawdown of ACCESS funds and if there are surplus funds available, is there any possibility of re-allocating those funds to the Arts Council with a view to providing further assistance this year to those arts groups who are in danger of going out of existence?
The multi-annual funding arrangement was introduced by the Arts Council. The Government endorsed the general principles of the arts plan but never stated that the funding would be X, Y or Z over the following three years. That was a matter for the Arts Council. Deputy Deenihan who is an experienced politician is well aware that the provision of funding for any Department is contingent upon the Esti mates debates which take place bilaterally and within Government. The decrease to the Arts Council was 8%. That must be set against a backdrop of an 80% increase over the previous five years. It is my job to ensure I get the maximum amount possible for the Arts Council and I will do that. However, it is important that the matter be set in context. With regard to the ACCESS funding, this money was made available for capital projects. It would not be possible to transfer that into revenue. On the question of whether it can be used for new projects, the position is that if some projects are not going ahead it will be due to the fact that they are unable to meet the time schedule. If those projects could not meet the time schedule, and if that is the reason they lose funding, it is extremely doubtful that late applicants could overtake projects which have been in the pipeline for some time and which would not make the time schedule.
