Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2012
23. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will give a commitment that community arts schemes will continue to receive funding from the Arts Council for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53057/12]
View answer52. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will give an undertaking not to cut or reduce in any way funding to the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53056/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 52 together.
Government policy on the arts is set out in the Programme for Government. As Minister responsible for the arts and culture sectors, I am committed to securing the best possible funding provision for them during my term of office.
Government policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, and to maximise the potential for cultural tourism. Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, which, under the Arts Acts, is independent in its funding decisions. In 2012, the Arts Council received an allocation of over €63 million – a curbing of the budgetary decline of previous years. Under statute, I may not intervene in its funding decisions.
The Government appreciates the importance of the arts, culture and the creative industries to both our society and to our economy. I am fully aware of the challenges for those involved in the arts and culture sectors and of the tremendous work they are doing. I am committed to supporting the essential elements of the arts and culture sectors, within the available financial resources and in the light of the evolving budgetary and Estimates processes.
