The Arts Council has been allocated the final tranche of funding it needs to complete its Arts Plan 1999-2001.
Although the figure for the council's funding is £36.5 million, and not the expected £37.5 million, this is because it will be granted £1 million extra in this year's Supplementary Estimates. This will bring the full cost of funding the council's plan to £100 million. As a result, the Government has honoured its funding agreement with the council. Other major increases in funding include the expected 56 per cent rise in funding to the Irish Film Board, which brings its spending estimate for next year up to £1.1 million. There has also been an increase of 383 per cent in funding for consultancy services to the National Gallery.