Funding for my Department for 2010 is €501 million, a decrease of 7% on the 2009 figure. The tourism services budget for 2010 is over €155 million, representing an increase of 2% on 2009. The enhanced allocation for tourism for 2010 is clear recognition by Government of the important role that the tourism and hospitality sector will play in Ireland's economic recovery. A total of €22 million has been allocated for capital investment in tourism product development, a threefold increase over the 2009 level. This investment will be focussed on completing the upgrading of some major tourism attractions, developing a select number of new visitor attractions, improving infrastructure for recreational cycling, walking and water-based activities and local heritage attractions.
The 2010 allocation for the Tourism Marketing Fund is over €44 million. This will enable the level and value of investment in overseas marketing of Ireland to be maintained in real terms in 2010 as recommended in the report of the tourism renewal group. Funding to arts, culture and film for 2010 is €166 million. Within this, I am pleased to have secured over €69 million for the Arts Council which will continue to sustain the country's main arts organisations, keep regional arts and theatre venues open and support local festivals and touring initiatives.
Funding for the Irish Film Board is €19 million. The section 481 tax relief scheme for investment in film and TV production is maintained until at least 2012, underpinning the Government's commitment to the importance of our indigenous Irish film and audiovisual sector. Culture Ireland's allocation for 2010 is over €4 million. Culture Ireland and Tourism Ireland have intensified joint planning on cross-promotions in the cultural tourism field. Capital funding for arts infrastructure has been consolidated in my Department and all major arts capital projects will be completed as will regional capital projects to which commitments have been made. Day-to-day funding for the national cultural institutions is maintained at or above 2007 levels and their capital funding is maintained at 2009 levels.
The Deputy will be aware that, at the Global Irish Economic Forum held in Farmleigh in September, there was wide acknowledgement of the importance of culture in promoting Ireland abroad and developing a unique brand for the country in new markets. Internationally, the creative economy is moving centre stage and creativity is seen as a crucial bedrock, underpinning our knowledge economy. I am pleased that these significant levels of funding have been secured to support the arts next year.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
A total of €48 million has been provided for the sports capital programme in 2010. This will ensure that commitments arising in 2010 from previous allocations under the sports capital programme will continue to be met. With regard to the local authority swimming pools programme, the allocation of €7.5 million in 2010 will be sufficient to meet commitments arising in 2010 under the current round of the programme. Funding of €49.8 million has been provided to the Irish Sports Council for 2010 and is a significant investment by Government to enable this important agency maintain existing programmes and build on recent significant progress in all areas, including local sports partnerships, Buntús, women in sport, older people and sport, youth field sports and the high performance programme.
Due to the economic constraints, it is not possible to move forward with the main phase 1 of the national sports campus project at this time. In the meantime, however, €3 million capital has been provided in my Department's 2010 provision for the refurbishment of the former Marine Institute building at Abbotstown which will be used as a headquarters for national governing bodies of sport.
An estimated 27,000 jobs are supported by both the horse and greyhound industry in Ireland and significant inward investment is attracted to the country. Taking account of the need to continue to support both industries, €59.3 million is being allocated by Government to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund in 2010.
I believe that the importance of the arts, sport and tourism sectors to the country are reflected in the commitments contained in the renewed programme for Government and in the funding secured under the budget for my Department's activities over the course of 2010. I look forward to a number of exciting developments next year, including the completion of two major projects — the national conference centre and the Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road — and the continuation of significant pieces of work which are ongoing at present regarding the new National Concert Hall project, the assessment of the GPO complex as a possible location for the Abbey Theatre and the creation of a new national opera company.