My Department does not provide funding for the day-to-day operation of theatre companies. Primary responsibility for the promotion and financial support of the arts at all levels, including theatrical organisations, is devolved to the Arts Council. A grant of over €58 million has been provided to the Council in 2015 for this purpose. The Arts Council operates under the provisions of the Arts Act 2003, which provides, inter alia, that the Council is independent in the performance of its functions in funding the arts. Details of funding provided by the Council are available on its website at www.artscouncil.ie.
With regard to the issue of geographic spread, I would like to draw the Deputy’s attention to a new development on the Council’s website of a funding map. It is an interactive map of Ireland showing the funding which has been awarded to arts organisations all around the country. It allows users to hover over the grant of any organisation in any county and the amount of funding and the reasons for funding will be shown. This new feature not only allows users to see at a glance the geographic spread of the Arts Councils funding, but also gives a flavour of the excellence of the organisations which achieve funding from the Arts Council. The funding map is available at the following link:
http://www.artscouncil.ie/map-of-funding-decisions/.
