The Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. Primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Council, although funded by my Department, is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations and specifically in its funding decisions. Information on the Arts Council's funding schemes and funding decisions is available for each county and each year through its funding decisions database at www.artscouncil.ie/funding-decisions.