Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Committee on Tourism, Culture, Sport, Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to discuss impact of Budget 2011

11 Ean 2011, 15:02

The Secretary General of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the Secretary General of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs will discuss the impact of Budget 2011 on the activities of their departments during the forthcoming year at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Sport, Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs tomorrow, Wednesday, 12 January at 2pm.

Chairman of the Committee on Tourism, Culture, Sport, Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Tom Kitt, TD, said: “Gross funding for the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs will be reduced by 13% from €401 million in 2010 to a budgeted €350 million in 2011. The Committee will be interested in hearing from the Secretary General how daily front-line services provided with funding from the Department will be protected, especially those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities.

Current funding for the Tourism, Culture and Sport Department’s three sectors is €296 million, a reduction of 6.5 % overall on spending for 2010. This includes the current funding of €8 million provided for the National Gallery, which has a separate Vote. A further €96 million is available for capital projects across the tourism, culture and sport sectors in 2011. In addition, a further €8m of unspent capital funding from 2010 is being carried forward into 2011.

Each of the three sectors – tourism, culture and sport – provide important outlets and benefits for individuals, families and communities and local economies. Tourism is an important indigenous industry, employing around 200,000 people, and is a vital contributor to the national economy while culture and sport bring huge benefits to the country socially and economically, showcasing our talent nationally and internationally. Our meeting tomorrow will provide the Secretary General with an opportunity to outline how the department under the new allocation can continue to support employment in all three sectors and develop cultural and sporting activities in the years ahead.”

This meeting will take place in Committee Room 4, Leinster House at 2pm tomorrow, Wednesday, 12 January.

This Committee can be viewed on-line at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Barr
Roinn