Vol. 518 No. 6
456 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the amount of money expended by the State on the arts as a percentage of GNP for the each of the years from 1996 to 1999; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13031/00]
457 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the way in which Ireland compares to the other 14 European Union member states in the percentage of GNP which is expended by national governments on the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13032/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together.
There is no internationally adopted mechanism for determining and expressing moneys expended on the arts as a percentage of GNP as the parameters of what constitutes the arts have not been properly delineated internationally.
I understand that the statistics office of the European Union, EUROSTAT, is attempting to develop a framework for the systematic collection of cultural statistics to allow for meaningful comparisons across the European Union without the current barriers that inhibit such meaningful comparison.
The Arts Council recently commissioned a study by the International Arts Bureau of levels of arts expenditure in selected countries and regions. In publishing this study, particular attention was drawn to certain inexactitudes in the methodology employed and the caveats on international comparisons.
For this reason, as I stated in reply to a similar question on 12 April 2000, I do not wish to read too much into the position of Ireland in any international league table. The programme for Government – An Action Plan for the Millennium – gives a clear and positive commitment to the development of the arts in Ireland and since my appointment as Minister I have secured dramatic increases in funding for the arts.
