The minister responsible for Arts has denied the sector is being downgraded under the new government.

That's despite the new name of her Department, which will see 'arts' removed from the top billing.

Having previously been known as the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the department is now to be known as the Department of Rural Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.

The change has been criticised by many within the arts community who see it as a snub to the sector and indicative of arts being dropped as a major prioritiy.

But the minister says the extra duties mean she'll have more staff to devote to the Arts sector: