Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2009
508 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the areas of funding which are to be reduced and the amount of same due to the reduction in funding to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15264/09]
View answerThe Supplementary Budget for 2009 was necessary to bring stability to the public finances, restore economic activity and enhance Ireland's competitiveness. In this regard, it is critical to manage the immediate economic difficulties so that Ireland is well positioned to take full advantage of the international economic recovery when it arrives. Expenditure in relation to arts, culture and film has been reduced by €41 million from €221 million in 2008 to €180 million in 2009, a reduction of18.5%. Within this, the reduction in current expenditure is just 6% while the reduction in capital expenditure is 42%, owing primarily to the completion of once-off major capital projects such as the Wexford Opera House and the Gate Theatre extension. Expenditure in relation to sports, recreation services and the horse and greyhound racing industry has been reduced by €141 million from €336 million in 2008 to €195 million in 2009, a reduction of 42%. However, the 2008 figure includes a once-off expenditure of €116 million in relation to the Lansdowne Road stadium project. When this sum is excluded, the reduction in relation to sport for 2009 is of the order of 11%. Expenditure in relation to tourism has been reduced by €16 million from €169 million in 2008 to €153 million in 2009, a reduction of 9.5%. Having regard to the foregoing, I successfully sought to minimise reductions in the Arts, Sport and Tourism core budgets, in accordance with the Government's stated priority of protecting economic sectors that contribute to job creation, foreign revenue earnings and tax yield to the Exchequer.
