Jack Wall
Question:781 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has met with the new Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20801/03]
Vol. 571 No. 1
781 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has met with the new Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20801/03]
I met with the new Arts Council on the 4 September 2003 which was the date of the new council's inaugural meeting.
782 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding which has been made available to the Arts Council; the way in which this funding compares to the funding allocated to the Arts Council for the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20802/03]
Funding for the Arts Council over the past three years was as follows: 2001, €46.369 million; 2002, €47.669 million; 2003, €44.101 million.
The reduction in funding in 2003 reflected the more difficult environment that applied to the public finances generally. I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to make the strongest possible case for the funding of the arts in the context of the annual Estimates process.