I welcome the opportunity to address the Members of the House on the topic of funding for the arts and I thank Senator Bannon for raising this important matter.
The funding allocated to the Arts Council in 2003 was €44.1 million, which represented a reduction of €3.568 million or about 7% on the Arts Council's provision in 2002. Naturally, it would have been better to avoid any reduction but the provision of €44.1 million to the Arts Council in 2003 must be put in context. The 2002 provision was the culmination of several years of unprecedented increases in funding for the arts. Between 1997 and 2002, funding for the Arts Council increased by about 80%. This increase in funding was a wonderful thing for the arts and allowed them to flower in a whole new way. However, there is no sector of our society that can expect increases such as these to be guaranteed, just as no sector of society can hope to be entirely isolated from the sometimes chill winds of economic cycles and the changing fortunes of Government finances.
The year 2003 was quite different from the years that preceded it. All sectors came under pressure this year and there was no way to avoid some reduction. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, did not enjoy having to preside over the reduced funding – what Minister does – but he had no alternative at the end of the day. He is acutely aware of the difficulties that resulted for various sectors of the arts, including performing companies, as a consequence of reduced funding this year and although there was no way to avoid it, he regrets the problems that were faced by artists and arts organisations around the country. I appreciate what Senator Bannon says about the Backstage Theatre Company in Longford whose funding was reduced from €216,000 to €190,000. I appreciate this causes difficulties for the company. Everybody involved plays an important role and is difficulty to quantify in monetary terms the contribution made through voluntary time and effort.
Although the Government funds the Arts Council, the distribution of the funds among sectors, organisations and individuals is a matter entirely for the council, which is independent with regard to individual funding decisions. There has been much comment that the provision made to the Arts Council in 2003 does not match the finance required to implement the Arts Plan 2002-2006. The Minister has already made clear that the arts plan is an Arts Council document which suggests specific levels of funding over a period of several years. The Government has never committed to those financial targets – it cannot, because Government finances are currently based on an annual Estimates cycle, under which system it is not possible to know what funding will be available beyond the year ahead.
The allocation for next year will, as always, be decided through the forthcoming Estimates process in the context of which the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism has given his commitment to make the strongest possible case for increased funding for the arts. He also remains committed to funding the arts and culture infrastructure around the country as an essential means of providing access for all to the arts. The arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme, ACCESS, was launched in 2001 and is scheduled to run until the end of 2004. Under the scheme €45.71 million has been offered to the promoters of 44 projects that develop the arts and culture infrastructure, including integrated arts centres, theatres, museums and galleries as well as arts studios and other arts production, creative and performance spaces.
The primary aim of this scheme is to ensure all our citizens have easy access to adequate venues for the creation, expression and appreciation of arts and culture, including our heritage. The scheme will lead to greater participation in the arts, with a greater number of facilities being provided on a broad geographical basis. The scheme will also result in the creation of direct and indirect employment in the arts and local economy generally. In addition, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism provides some capital funding for other projects outside the ACCESS scheme. A total of €6.4 million was paid to these projects in 2002 and a further €5.2 million is committed.
Between 1997 and 2002 funding was increased by 80%, which means we are victims of our own success. It was unfortunate that there had to be a reduction this year of €3.568 million because resources were not available. The Minister will be making every effort to secure the maximum possible funding for the Arts Council this year, taking into consideration the resources available.
