Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:129 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is estimated that the performing arts make a ?247 million annual contribution to the economy, provide direct employment for more than 2,000 people here and that annual cultural tourism generated by theatre, dance, opera and arts festivals contributes ?88 million, much of it injected into peripheral regions; if his attention has further been drawn to the level of disruption caused to the sector by the cuts to the arts budget introduced in 2003; his views on these claims; his reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26016/03]