Ms Ní Chuilín: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Does the Minister acknowledge that not every local council, including Belfast City Council, is happy with the proposals? Will he also admit that local festivals, particularly community festivals, increasingly have to rely on private funding?

Mr Poots: The indications are that the vast majority of councils are satisfied to proceed with the proposals. Funding for local community festivals has not been reduced, so the reliance on private sources should not be any greater. Community festivals that have worked well in the past should be better able to attract private-sector funding, therefore allowing other community festivals to thrive. Indeed, the system that we have introduced will double the amount of money allocated to the community festival fund, since it is to be match-funded by the councils.

The Member apparently claims that Belfast City Council does not support the idea because they do not want to match-fund the Government grant, but I am not sure that that is true. The new arrangement means that more money — not less — will be provided for community festivals.

Mr K Robinson: Will the Minister indicate how much has been spent in the last three years on the community festivals fund? What audit has been carried out on the expenditure of those funds, in respect of both value for money and measurable impact?

Mr Poots: I cannot tell the Member the spending for three years because the system has only been in operation for two. The expenditure on the community festivals fund has been £450,000 per annum for the last two years.

Mr Burns: Does the Minister agree that community festivals have been dramatically beneficial in reducing conflict and antisocial behaviour? Can he say what moneys are available from the central Government to support community festivals?

Mr Poots: I have allocated £450,000 of central Government money to local authorities for distribution to community festivals through match-funding mechanisms. In addition, groups such as the Arts Council might sponsor events that enhance the arts, and other areas that are the responsibility of other Departments might be offered funding. Nevertheless, money is clearly coming from central Government to community festivals.