Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2008
87 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will guarantee that there will be no cuts in his funding of a theatre (details supplied) in County Donegal, in the next 36 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35210/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe theatre referred to by the Deputy received €65,000 in capital funding from my Department under the ACCESS II (Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme) scheme. This grant was fully drawn down in 2007 and there is, therefore, no question of cutting the capital funding provided to the theatre. The ACCESS scheme continues to be a significant intervention in the provision of high quality arts and cultural infrastructure throughout the country.
The theatre is also in receipt of current funding from the Arts Council and was provided with €150,000 in 2008. The Arts Council makes funding decisions on an annual basis and the levels of grants provided are dependent on the annual Estimates process. The Arts Council are statutorily independent under the Arts Act 2003 and I have no role to play in the allocation of their grants or their executive decisions.
