The Arts Council of Ireland has committed €25.7 million to the Abbey Theatre to carry out its programme of work over the next three years - 2006, 2007 and 2008. It is the largest grant ever made by the Arts Council and it is also the first time a three-year funding programme has been put in place for the National Theatre. As well as the salvation of the Abbey, the council will fund 325 arts organisations – 22 more than last year – with the Arts Council spending €51 million in total. It is the largest amount ever spent within the funding programme. Speaking today, Olive Braiden, Chair of the Arts Council said: “We were very pleased to secure an additional €10.8 million in funding for 2006 from the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr John O’Donoghue, TD and this will enable us to offer increases in grants to many arts organisations, with an unprecedented level of funding going specifically to our National Theatre over the next three years. The Abbey has exceptional issues and this funding is to enable the organisation to reclaim the ground lost over recent years." For more information and some statistics on the spending, CLICK HERE.