While The Gathering event is primarily a matter for my colleague, Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I am conscious of the importance and potential of cultural tourism in attracting the diaspora to our shores. I welcome this initiative, which is expected to be one of the biggest tourism events ever to be undertaken in Ireland. It will be a year-long event when people at home and abroad can play a part in the country's recovery, potentially bringing 325,000 visitors to Ireland and providing a major economic stimulus.
The Gathering is a hugely important initiative for our tourism sector, one with which my Department, its agencies and the national cultural institutions which operate under its aegis are very pleased to support and participate in. In that context, officials from my Department have been working closely with colleagues in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and agencies within its remit on cultural, genealogical and heritage tourism matters. I also see The Gathering as an excellent opportunity to promote our culture, heritage and the traditional arts. Government policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, and maximise the potential for cultural tourism.
A condition in all relevant schemes of support from my Department in 2013 is that of mobilizing support for The Gathering. Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, which, under the Arts Acts, is independent in its funding decisions. While my Department does not have any special arrangements in terms of financial support to be made available for traditional musicians, dancers and artists for the duration of The Gathering, support for artforms is already provided through Exchequer funding to the Arts Council and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
In 2013, the Arts Council will receive an allocation of some €60.7 million in current, capital and EU Presidency funding. The Council has many different funding schemes and programmes available to support a wide variety of artistic genre, including specific supports for traditional arts, music and dance. In addition, my Department will also be allocating funding of almost €1.6 million in 2013 to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to help support its important work in maintaining, developing and promoting traditional Irish music and culture. There are over 400 Comhaltas branches throughout Ireland, as well as in the UK, the USA, Australia and other countries.
