As the House knows, the Government entrusted the task of organising the celebration of Dublin as cultural capital of Europe in 1991 to Dublin Promotions Organisations Ltd. They have prepared a brochure setting out an impressive programme of events planned for the year. I have arranged for the brochure to be circulated to Deputies.
Restoration works with cultural connotations are being carried out primarily by the Office of Public Works and these are described in a brochure prepared by that office which I have also arranged to have circulated to Deputies. In addition, the Irish Museum of Modern Art will be opened in May in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham and, of course, the College of Science complex restored as Government Buildings was recently opened as the first in this series of restoration projects for Dublin 1991.
As I have already reported to the House, most recently on 27 February, the Temple Bar area will be developed as a Government flagship project as part of the city of culture programme. The property holdings of CIE and Dublin Corporation in the Temple Bar area will be acquired. Loan financing of £5 million has been provided for the development of the area by the European Investment Bank and the European Community has made a grant of £3.6 million for certain aspects of the development. The Government will shortly consider tax and other incentives related specifically to the development.
Dublin Corporation are reopening the refurbished Hugh Lane Gallery in Parnell Square after a substantial restoration project to which the Government have also contributed £100,000. Nearby in Parnell Square, the Writers' Centre and the Writers' Museum will shortly open. This project is being funded by the Government, Dublin Tourism and the European Regional Development Fund at a cost of £1.8 million.
In addition, I allocated £1.25 million to the Dublin Promotions Organisation for their various activities. They have raised considerably more than this in sponsorship and in contributions from the cultural institutes of various embassies. The European Commission has given a grant in the region of £130,000.
At the National Museum and National Library, further works of improvement will be carried out this year, including the provision of an exhibition room at the National Library and work to facilitate the mounting of special exhibitions during the year. The National Concert Hall will inaugurate a new concert organ and will be the venue for concerts in celebration of the year. Many of the bodies and groups funded by the Arts Council will also participate in events throughout the year.
I am satisfied that the overall result will be a very vibrant celebration in 1991 of Dublin as a worthy cultural capital coupled with the long term benefits of continuing cultural renewal from the restoration and reconstruction projects which we have undertaken.