asked the Minister for the Environment if he has given any indication to local authorities of the attitude of his Department to the incurring of expenditure by local authorities on the arts under the Arts Act, 1974.

16.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he has given any consideration to the role of local authorities in promoting the arts in their functional areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

17.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any proposals for ensuring that local authorities encourage the promotion and development of the arts within their functional areas.

: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 16 and 17 together.

Local authorities are empowered to assist the promotion and development of the arts under a number of Statutes including the Arts Act, 1973. Their attention was drawn to the relevant provision of this Act by circular letter in July 1974. The manner in which local authorities use their statutory powers in regard to the arts is left to their own discretion and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene.

: In view of the fact that the Minister is now at the Second Stage of a Bill which will have the effect of taking into his Department substantial powers regarding rates, would it not be extremely useful and appropriate for him to indicate his attitude at this stage? Recently the Minister spoke on this matter at a seminar in his own part of the country.

: The seminar to which the Deputy refers was held in a county adjoining my county. The activity concerned will be encouraged. The seminar referred to was arranged by the local authority.

: I understand they are very good in that respect. In view of the fact that the Department intend monitoring or keeping under review——

: We also examine and sanction and release moneys.

: ——the situation, can the Minister indicate whether he proposes to issue a circular to local authorities regarding the expenditure of moneys on this activity?

: The last circular in this regard was issued in 1974 so I suppose it would be advisable to issue a further one.

: On the basis of that partial reply, can the Minister say specifically whether, in the event of his receiving an application from a local authority for additional funds, he would declare his position in principle on the matter?

: At this time I have not a position on the matter. Neither have I had any application in this respect.

: Is the Minister in favour personally of local authorities spending money under this heading?

: Yes.

: Can he give any indication of the kind of percentage of total revenue that would be reasonable or, more to the point, unreasonable?

: I could not give a precise figure.

: That is a separate question. The Deputy is asking questions on matters on which the Minister would not be likely to have the information at hand.

: I would need a battery of accountants to enable me to have all that information at my fingertips.

: If I table specific questions later on the subject, will the Minister let me have the information then?

: Yes.

: The Minister says he has an open mind on this kind of expenditure.

: I have no fixed attitude to it at the moment.

: How fixed, then, is the 11 per cent ceiling on local authority expenditure this year?

: That is a separate question.

: Would the provision of moneys by local authorities under the heading we are talking of be subject to the 11 per cent ceiling?

: The question is separate so far as the 11 per cent is concerned. The expenditure under the heading in question is at the discretion of the local authority, as I have said already.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is not the Minister taking all discretion from the local authorities?

: Question No. 18.

: Would the Minister not admit that in view of the restrictions he has imposed on local government expenditure——

: There are no such restrictions.

: ——they cannot have discretion?

: The Deputy is out of order.

: It is an important question.

: All the questions are important. The Deputy has the habit of continuing to ask supplementaries after the next question has been called.

: If one considers the Dublin figures for 1977-78 one realises the increase there is.