asked the Taoiseach if he has completed his review of State spending on the Arts in this country and if he will make a statement to the House on this matter.

The review has not yet been completed.

Can the Taoiseach give any indication as to when he expects the review will be completed?

I would hope at least to get a preliminary report in a matter of weeks. I shall keep the Deputy informed.

Arising out of my original question in October, may I ask if the contacts he then referred to between his Department and the Arts Council have taken place and if he is in a position to indicate perhaps how frequent the contacts have been or if they have been substantial?

There has not been any further contact. The understanding at the time was that when the review would have proceeded to a certain point contacts might then be made with the chairman of the Arts Council. These contacts have not been made because the review has not proceeded to that point.

Perhaps I did not hear the Taoiseach properly but I did understand him to say initially that the review would be completed in a number of weeks.

No, I said I hoped to get a preliminary report in a couple of weeks. I cannot say exactly when.

At that stage there will be contact with the Arts Council in a fuller fashion?

I cannot say; it depends on what is in the report. I have not got copies before me of the letters I wrote to the former chairman of the Arts Council but I think it left it fairly open as to the time and the manner of the contact.

Would the Taoiseach assure the House that the Arts Council will have a very full and decided role in any such review?

I cannot give that assurance yet, at any rate. The Deputy may be sure that I shall not want to exclude the Arts Council.