The current and previous Governments rightly committed to investment in the arts, including significant increases in funding to the Arts Council and expanding the basic income for the arts scheme. Indeed, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is to proceed with the arts capital programme later this year. I want to raise the question of funding for amateur theatre and musical movements around the country. After the GAA, there are more people involved in amateur theatre and musicals than in any other voluntary activity. In my constituency, the Kilmuckridge Drama Festival recently took place and the South Leinster Drama Festival and the South Wicklow Drama Festival will also open soon. During Covid, we provided funding to those organisations. Can we commit to some sort of regular funding? Will the Taoiseach raise this with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, who I know is aware of the issue? We need to fund those organisations that support amateur theatre and musicals right around the country.

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That is a compliment.

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