To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the support her Department is providing to the arts sector, following the 8 per cent in-year reduction to the Arts Council's budget.

I have agreed to meet with a number of arts organisations over the coming weeks and I met with members of the Board of the Arts Council, including the Chair, and members of the Executive to hear at first hand what the effect of this funding reduction is likely to be and what impact this would have on the sector’s ability to deliver access to the arts for all.

I will continue promoting the benefits of the arts and trying to secure more funding, not only for the arts, but for all cultural services that deliver to our people.

I will also keep on doing what I can to broaden the access to and availability of arts and culture for everyone.

That is why I launched, yesterday, a consultation on a strategy for culture and arts. I hope this consultation will help me to make a resounding case for appropriate and sustainable funding for arts and culture as we move forward.