Paul Murphy
Question:
135. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the criteria applied by the Arts Council in providing funding for the publication of books and whether the criteria concerned take into consideration the financial resources already available to the applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5918/23]
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Paul Murphy
Question:
136. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the funding by the Arts Council of a book (details supplied) took into consideration the financial resources already available to the applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5919/23]
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
As Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, along with having responsibility for policy within the Arts, I allocate funding to the Arts Council who have primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland under the Arts Act 2003. I have referred your questions about funding publication of books to the Arts Council for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
The Arts Council’s role in literature is to support the development of the artform, and it is a key player1 in the provision of a national infrastructure for literary culture in Ireland. The Arts Council’s remit for literature includes poetry, fiction, short fiction, children’s literature, literary criticism and some forms of creative non-fiction. Through direct support and through partnerships with others, the Arts Council works to create opportunities for people across the country to engage with writing from Ireland and around the world. As the international, commercial publishing industry benefits a number of established Irish writers, Arts Council support is concentrated on indigenous, independent literary publishing houses and journals that platform new voices, experimental work and distinctive Irish literary writers.
Publications which fall outside of the remit of the Arts Council are not eligible for funding.
Applicants for funding are required to submit detailed budgets outlining income and expenditure and this information is considered as part of the feasibility criteria of the assessment process.
Lilliput Press received funding in response to an application for support in relation to publications of a literary nature and which fall within the Arts Council’s remit. The title in question has not been the subject of a funding application to the Arts Council.
Question No. 136 answered with Question No. 135.
