Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 October 2008
144 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to provide €100 million funding to the Arts Council as recommended by the Partnership for the Arts document; the strategy for the development of the arts here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33777/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra165 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his proposals for the funding, development, encouragement and promotion of the arts in 2009; the areas most likely to receive support in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33838/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra277 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his role in the promotion, encouragement and generation of interest in the arts in the country generally and specifically in County Kildare having particular regard to such requirements in areas of rapidly expanding population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34227/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra284 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his proposals for the promotion of the arts in County Kildare, whether through agencies connected to his Department or by direct intervention with particular reference to the need to encourage community groups such as musical or dramatic societies involved in local productions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34234/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 144, 165, 277 and 284 together.
The Government's priorities for the Arts are set out in the Programme for Government and are elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy and the Arts Plan 2008, which has been placed in the Oireachtas Library.
Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved primarily to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Under the Arts Act, 2003, the general functions of the Council include the following:
to stimulate public interest in the arts;
to promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts;
to assist in improving standards in the arts.
The Arts Council is a statutorily independent body, funded by my Department and independent in its day-to-day operations, including in relation to its funding decisions.
As Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism I am committed to securing the best possible funding deal for the Arts Council and the arts sector generally throughout the country. The Arts Council's funding requirement for the year ahead however, can only be addressed in the context of the consideration of the Estimates for the Public Services for 2009. In doing so, the Government must balance competing demands from every part of our economy and society, in a declining Exchequer revenue environment.
Funding for the Arts Council has increased from €47.67 million in 2002 to €81.6 million in 2008 — an increase of over 71%. These are significant amounts of money in any context. This funding has transformed the arts, increasing access to and participation in the arts, and has provided an excellent platform for future development.
My policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts and make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life.
The following table shows the funding provided to the Arts Council between 1997 and 2008.
|
Year |
Funding (€m) |
% Change |
Supplementary Estimate |
Total including Supplementary |
% Change |
|
1997 |
26.410 |
26.41 |
|||
|
1998 |
33.140 |
25.5 |
33.14 |
25.5 |
|
|
1999 |
35.550 |
7.3 |
35.55 |
7.3 |
|
|
2000 |
45.080 |
26.8 |
45.08 |
26.8 |
|
|
2001* |
46.370 |
2.9 |
1.77 |
48.14 |
6.8 |
|
2002 |
47.670 |
2.8 |
47.67 |
-1.0 |
|
|
2003 |
44.100 |
-7.5 |
44.10 |
-7.5 |
|
|
2004** |
52.500 |
19.0 |
2.00 |
54.50 |
23.6 |
|
2005*** |
61.000 |
16.2 |
5.23 |
66.23 |
21.5 |
|
2006 |
72.310 |
18.5 |
10.00 |
82.31 |
24.3 |
|
2007**** |
80.000 |
10.6 |
3.00 |
83.00 |
0.8 |
|
2008 |
82.102 |
2.6 |
81.60 |
-1.7 |
