Vol. 572 No. 1
73 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has plans to reverse the savage cuts in funding for the arts sector; if his attention has been drawn to the extreme financial hardship imposed on the sector by these cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22191/03]
83 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the budget which has been allocated to the new Arts Council for its term of office; his views on whether this is sufficient to meet the funding commitments of the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22192/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 83 together.
I am well aware of the problems that have arisen for those in the arts sector because of the unavoidable reduction in funding this year. However, I would point out that although the Arts Council's allocation for 2003 of €44.1 million is down by around 7.5% on the 2002 figure, that 2002 figure was the culmination of steady year-on-year increases since 1997. Indeed, Arts Council funding increased by over 80% between 1997 and 2002.
