Vol. 427 No. 6
261 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his views on whether State funding for the Arts Council should be brought into line with the Programme for Economic and Social Progress agreement and kept in line with inflation.
I agree that State funding for An Chomhairle Ealaíon should be brought into line with the Programme for Economic and Social Progress agreement and kept in line with inflation. Indeed, I am happy to inform the Deputy that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits the Government to meeting the funding targets for An Chomhairle Ealaíon which are envisaged in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. A major step in meeting this commitment has already been made with the allocation of £11.5 million in 1993 — an increase of 13 per cent on the 1992 figure. The Programme for Economic and Social Progress target of £12-13 million will be achieved in 1994 and it is my intention that it will then be at least maintained at that level in real terms in subsequent years.
