Arts budget
Taylor asks for Arts Council budgets over the past five years and the proposed 1986 provision. The Taoiseach identifies the Council as the main public funding channel and says he is considering proposals for projects.
asked the Taoiseach the amount of the arts budget for each of the past five years and the expenditure which is proposed for 1986.
Comment on this
The Arts Council, An Comhairle Ealaíon, an independent statutory organisation, operate under the aegis of my Department, and are the main source of public funding for the arts in the State. Their budget for the past five years and their provision for 1986 are as follows:
Funding through the Arts Council represents of course the principal channel of aid to the arts. I have recently had a constructive meeting with the chairman and members of the Arts Council and am at present considering proposals made by them relating to several projects which they believe they would have difficulty in funding from their current grant for 1986 and I have agreed with them to discuss with the Minister for Labour the possibility of closer liaison with that Department in respect of approval of teamwork and SES grants involving the arts.
Additional aid is, however, provided for the arts in other ways, some of which have recently become significant. Thus, capital grants totalling £900,000 are currently being provided to arts projects out of the funds of suitors including £300,000 to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and £100,000 to the Royal Academy of Music for the renovation of their premises in Westland Row, and a further £100,000 through the Arts Council in respect of the Irish National Ballet project at the Firkin Crane. In addition, £120,000 was provided by the Exchequer last year in connection with European Music Year.
Moreover, the arts have benefited significantly from new resources available through both the already mentioned teamwork scheme — almost £700,000 for over 40 projects in 1985 — and the social employment scheme — over £250,000 for 16 projects.
Other recent measures to help the arts include the provisions for tax relief of gifts in section 32 of the 1984 Finance Act — now extended to 34 approved bodies.
Other cultural bodies funded or aided directly by the State — such as the National Gallery, National Museum, National Concert Hall, Public Record Office, State Paper Office, The Chester Beatty Library, the Irish Manuscripts Commission, the National Centre for Culture and the Arts at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham received about £3 million from the State last year.