Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2860. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the cost of increasing spending on the arts to 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.6% of GDP, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35023/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2018, Eurostat - the statistical office of the European Union - updated its annual estimates of Government expenditure on recreation, culture and religion with figures for 2016. The figures for Ireland for Cultural Services was 0.2% of GDP and that for Broadcasting and publishing services was a further 0.2% of GDP. The amounts were €577 million and €560 million respectively of €1,137 million combined.
Eurostat reported that in Ireland the percentage of total expenditure directed to Cultural Services was 0.8% compared to an EU average of 0.9%. The percentage of total expenditure directed to Broadcasting and Publishing services was also 0.8% and compared to an EU average of 0.4%.
The Central Statistics Office figure for GDP in current market prices in 2016 is €275,567 million. This means that €551 million, €826 million and €1,653 million represent 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.6% of GDP respectively.
Details are available on the Eurostat website at the following link: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/submitViewTableAction.do.
