Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2004
86 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of funding allocated to the Arts Council in 2005; whether this will be adequate to redress the cutbacks in funding for the Arts Council in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31427/04]
View answerAn amount of €61 million has been allocated to the Arts Council for 2005. This represents an increase of some 16% on the amount provided in 2004, which was 19% greater than the 2003 figure. These increases demonstrate, in the most tangible way, the Government's commitment to the arts, and will allow the Arts Council to move forward in a proactive way to support and develop the arts throughout the country. I would also point out that funding for the Arts Council increased by over 80% between 1997 and 2002.
