Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys has confirmed that the name of her reconfigured department will be the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Ms Humphreys was recently forced to reject claims her new range of departmental responsibilities represents a downgrading of the status of arts, culture and heritage in the Government’s priorities.

Ms Humphreys, who was previously minister for arts, heritage and the Gaeltacht, said her expanded department would not see current arts funding being diverted elsewhere. The arts account for half of her department’s spending.

An online petition calling for a reversal of the decision secured thousands of signatures.

“We’re all really surprised by how much this has taken off,” said the petition’s organiser, John O’Brien, who added that the decision to launch the campaign had been driven by “a combination of disappointment, frustration and anger”.

Ms Humphreys had been given the role of Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ms Humphreys said the new name “reflects the broader remit of the reconfigured department, which retains all of the responsibilities of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, with additional responsibility for a wide range of programmes relating to rural and regional affairs and development”.

Placing “arts” at the start of the title, she added, “reflects the fact that the arts division accounts for the biggest portion of my department’s budget”.