Sir, – Fintan O'Toole complains that Irish government spending on the arts has fallen from €92.3 million in 2011 to €75.9 million in 2014 ("No Oscar nomination for best supporting environment", Opinion & Analysis, January 19th).
He should regard the Republic as fortunate in this respect by comparison with Northern Ireland. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland in 2014-2015 received funding from the Executive of £12.3 million (just 0.1 per cent of total expenditure by Stormont). Even when currency differences and Northern Ireland’s smaller population are taken into account, it is clear that per capita expenditure on the arts is far lower on this side of the Border than on the other. – Yours, etc,
CDC ARMSTRONG,
Belfast.