Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2013
472. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline on a county basis, in tabular form, the number of venues in receipt of Arts Council funding in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the grant each venue was awarded; the grant each venue actually drew down; the purpose for which each grant was awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31818/13]
View answer473. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the weighting given by the Arts Council to the range and size of an actual arts programme when it make an annual award to an arts institution; the role of the programme in maintaining the viability of local arts venues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31819/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together.
The Arts Council is a Statutory Agency set up under the Arts Act, 2003. Under the Arts Act, 2003, the provision of funding is a matter in the sole remit of the Arts Council. I am precluded by statute from intervening in the Arts Council's decisions on funding.
Details of the Council's successful applicants and the grants awarded are available on the decisions database of the Arts Council's website at http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/we_funded.aspx. For each of its schemes, the Arts Council publishes on its website, the names grantees, the amount awarded, the names of the decision-making panel as well as statistics on the numbers of applications. I understand that the local authority area is also provided. The data are updated throughout the year as funding decisions are made.
The Arts Council’s strategic approach is called Developing the Arts in Ireland Arts Council Strategic Overview 2011 – 2013 and it is available on the Arts Council's website. In accordance with this document the Arts Council focuses on supporting artists and arts organisations and aiming to increase public engagement and participation in the arts. Through this the Arts Council's aim is to provide support to artists and arts organisations so as to facilitate their planning and programming.
