I am supplying the Deputy with a table that sets out the following details in regard to the Arts Council for each year from 2000 to 2010: total grant in aid; the nominal percentage change in funding compared with the previous year; the rate of inflation as measured by the consumer price index; and the real percentage change in funding compared with the previous year, taking inflation into account. The overall position is that total Arts Council funding has increased from €45 million in 2000 to more than €68 million in 2010, which is an increase of 52.3% in the ten-year period. This is equivalent to a real increase of 19.2% over inflation for the ten-year period, as measured by the CPI. It also represents an average real increase of 1.8% each year over the ten-year period.
The Government appreciates the economic and social importance of the arts and culture sector. The economic value of the arts and creative industries, and their role in supporting enterprise and innovation in the economy as a whole, was highlighted at the Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh and at the follow-up group of the Global Irish Network, which I chaired in New York. The value of our unique cultural assets in helping to distinguish Ireland from other tourism destinations has been also stressed as an increasing focus has been put on cultural tourism in recent years.
At the same time, while our arts, culture and heritage are important contributors to sustainable economic recovery, we appreciate that their contribution should never be measured in financial terms alone. Rather, they should be appreciated also for the social, cultural and educative benefits they bring to communities large and small around the country. The Government directed major increases in funding at the arts when resources were available. The unprecedented level of capital investment in arts facilities in particular will stand to the sector in the coming years. The challenge in the coming years will be to assist the arts in working smarter within the limited public financial resources available, building on our strengths and seizing new opportunities. Despite the undoubted challenges that will face the sector over the next few years, I am confident it can come through these difficulties stronger and in a position to achieve greater success in the years ahead.
The following table shows the annual grant-in-aid to the Arts Council from 2000 to 2010 inclusive together with the nominal changes and real changes in those years. Real changes are calculated by reference to the Consumer Price Index or CPI from 2001 to 2009 as published by the Central Statistics Office. The CPI for 2010 is taken from the most recent Department of Finance forecast.
Arts Council - Total Grant-in-Aid — Nominal and Real Increase 2000 to 2010
Year
|
Total Grant-in-aid
|
Nominal Change
|
Inflation Consumer Price Index
|
Real Change
|
|
€000s
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
2000
|
45,080
|
|
|
|
2001
|
48,140
|
6.8
|
4.9
|
1.8
|
2002
|
47,669
|
-1.0
|
4.6
|
-5.3
|
2003
|
44,101
|
-7.5
|
3.5
|
-10.6
|
2004
|
54,500
|
23.6
|
2.2
|
20.9
|
2005
|
66,233
|
21.5
|
2.5
|
18.6
|
2006
|
82,310
|
24.3
|
4.0
|
19.5
|
2007
|
83,000
|
0.8
|
4.9
|
-3.9
|
2008
|
81,620
|
-1.7
|
4.1
|
-5.5
|
2009
|
73,350
|
-10.1
|
-4.5
|
-5.9|
|
2010
|
68,649
|
-6.4
|
-1.0
|
-5.5
|
Total change 2010/2000
|
|
52.3
|
|
19.2
|