asked the Minister for the Environment if he will ensure that sufficient funds are made available to promote the Dublin Millennium and in particular, to assist local community groups in so doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
48.
Written Answers. - Dublin Millennium.
43.
asked the Minister for the Environment the plans the Government have to celebrate Dublin's Millennium.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 48 together.
The Government have already announced a special grant of £700,000 towards the celebration of the Dublin City Millennium in 1988. This grant — from the surplus moneys generated by the national lottery — will go to sponsor a series of projects. The projects will be in the areas of arts and culture, community, youth, environmental improvement etc. I can assure the Deputy that there will be substantial aid from this grant for community based projects.
The £700,000 special grant is additional to the £250,000 grant to Dublin Corporation for the repaving of Grafton Street which I announced previously. I will also be giving a special grant of £250,000 to Dublin Corporation in 1988 for improvement works in O'Connell Street. The Government recognise the importance of the millennium celebrations both for the people of Dublin city and for the whole country and I believe that the impressive amount of Government aid which I have now outlined speaks for itself.