Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 4

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - National Lottery Funds.

Michael Bell

Question:

3 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if he will outline in the context of page 17 of the publication Principal Features of the 1991 Budget the nature of the provision mentioned under ministerial group/ Taoiseach of £1.866 million; the reason it is necessary to meet expected 1991 costs on projects approved in 1990 and earlier years; the agencies and cultural institutions concerned; whether other funding will be allocated for this subhead from the national lottery in 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Taoiseach

I propose to circulate in the Official Report a schedule setting out the projects assisted under this provision. The sum of £1.866 million is a carryover of national lottery funds which have been allocated to arts and culture and heritage projects in previous years but remain unspent for a variety of reasons, such as delays in undertaking the project or in raising matching funds. The amount of the carryover is included in subheads J and K of this Department's Vote for 1991.

Projects included in carryover amount of capital funds from the National Lottery from 1990 to 1991.

	1990 carryover to 1991
	£000
Kilkenny Theatre	50.0
Galway Arts Centre	105.0
Letterkenny Arts Centre	172.6
Clashganna Mills Trust	92.3
Writers' Centre, Dublin	49.4
Transport Museum Society	2.0
Irish Museum of Modern Art	165.6
National Gallery	169.9
Museum at Custom House Docks	238.0
National Archives	60.0
Irish Film Board	65.0
Museum of Labour History, Dublin	12.9
Carrigglas Stable Yard, Longford	25.5
King House, Boyle	25.0
Rothe House, Kilkenny	8.0
Drimnagh Castle, Dublin	10.0
Blessington Courthouse	0.5
Mariners Church, Dún Laoghaire	6.3
St. Michael's Castlepollard	8.0
Old Jail, Carrick-on-Shannon	7.5
Palace Theatre, Cork	15.0
Bantry House, Cork	100.0
St. Brigid's Kildare	50.0
St. John's Listowel	15.0
Killala Cathedral, County Mayo	20.0
Ballybrit Castle, County Galway	7.5
St. Mary's Limerick	200.0
Fethard Town Hall, County Tipperary	10.0
University Church, Dublin	7.5
Sirius Commemoration, Cobh	30.0
Tailors Hall, Dublin	20.0
Fethard Town Walls, County Tipperary	40.0
Doneraile Court, County Cork	10.0
Tarbert Bridewell, County Limerick	10.0
Westport House, County Mayo	27.5
Markree Castle, County Sligo	30.0
Total	1,866.0

Mr. Bell

In the event of these moneys not being spent during the course of this financial year, has the Taoiseach any alternative plans to put this sizeable amount of money to other use?

The Taoiseach

No, the position is that it has been earmarked for a very wide variety of projects all over the country. The reason it has not been spent is that in many cases the promoters of these projects have had difficulty in finding their proportion of the expenditure. It is still held ready for them whenever they do.

Mr. Bell

In view of the substantial requirement for money for educational projects and projects for the handicapped, in particular, would the Taoiseach not agree that this money could be transferred and used in the interests of the handicapped?

The Taoiseach

The lottery funds are used very substantially in those areas in aid of the handicapped and in the health area generally, but these funds are committed to projects and the people have been notified that the money is available to them. Therefore, it would be a breach of faith if we were to remove the funds at this stage. However, if there is any undue delay a project can be reconsidered.