Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014
85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which the various forms of the arts continue to be supported and encouraged notwithstanding the economic downturn; if particular or specific areas have been earmarked for attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24957/14]
View answer86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total number and location of recipients of grant aid in support of the arts in the course of the past three years to date both directly through his Department or through the aegis of subordinate bodies; the extent to which all such funding has been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24958/14]
View answer89. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which interest continues to be shown in this country for film location purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24961/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 86 and 89 together.
I refer the Deputy to my previous extensive responses to him on these matters. As the Deputy will recall, responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council, which is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is a statutorily independent body, funded by my Department and independent in its day-to-day operations, and I have no role to play in relation to its funding decisions, such as those relating to local festivals, musical and dramatic productions.
In Budgets 2013 and 2014, significant changes to the film and television production tax and incentive regime were announced to encourage the location in the State of mobile audiovisual production. I would refer the Deputy to the website of the Irish Film Board at http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/ on which details of film locations are regularly updated. Relevant details in relation to funding decisions by my Department are also available on its website at www.ahg.gov.ie.
