To ask the Minister for Communities whether any assessment has been made of introducing software grants for those engaging in digital arts and design.

This issue is an operational matter for the Arts Council.

I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:

‘The Arts Council does not offer grants specifically for the purchase of software, however costs relating to the purchase of equipment/software is an eligible cost that may be funded within various grant programmes to support project delivery outcomes, from both Exchequer and Lottery programmes to support arts organisations and individual artists.

Funding is available to individual artists and arts organisation, for engagement in digital arts supported by Lottery Funding through the Organisations Digital Evolution Awards and Individual Digital Artists Evolution programmes jointly funded by the Arts Council and Future Screens NI.’