Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 4 Jul 1957

Vol. 163 No. 6

Committee on Finance. - Vote 14—An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

The Taoiseach

I move:—

That a sum not exceeding £13,500 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1958, for a Grant to An Chomhairle Ealaíon (No. 9 of 1951).

Unfortunately, I am not in a position to speak on the work being done by An Chomhairle Ealaíon. I have to confess, that I have been so busy with other things, that I have not had time so far to go into the matter but the general purpose for which the moneys are being provided has been approved here on several occasions and there have been discussions on the advantages to the country of the work of this Council. Of course it is the duty of the Taoiseach to examine the various proposals made and to provide within the Estimate the money required. I hope to have an opportunity of going more closely into the work of the Council.

Mr. J.A. Costello

A new Arts Council has been recently established with a new director. I personally hope that fruitful results will follow from the operations of the Arts Council. They have very little money. Twenty thousand pounds is a very small sum for the work done by the Arts Council, and I would hope that, when the financial affairs of the country permit, at the earliest possible moment a greater sum will be made available to the Arts Council.

I believe the work the council has been doing, and is capable of doing, and the functions it should perform, would be better appreciated by the country if in matters affecting art, and the application of art to industry in particular, the organisations and industrialists involved would take advantage of the facilities that are available to them through the medium of the Arts Council. I had great hopes for the operations of that Council. I still have great hopes that it will do considerable good.

It is right that the House and the country should know that the Council have been quietly but otherwise effectively operating to secure the return of the Lane bequest to this country. That is only one of its many activities. I hope the remarks made to-day will not prevail in reference to the Arts Council, that it will not be dealt with as a non-essential service.

Vote put and agreed to.