Vol. 435 No. 4
63 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht whether there are any funds at his disposal either through the national lottery or otherwise, whereby he can make a grant or award available to St. Mary's Brass and Reed Band, Maynooth, County Kildare in view of the band's ongoing developmental needs, its cultural and historic links and its need to upgrade and improve its premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As I pointed out to the Deputy in my written reply of 22 October, 1993 to his representations the funds at my disposal are earmarked for the National Cultural Institutions such as the National Museum and the National Library.
The appropriate agency for aiding individual arts projects and groups is An Comhairle Ealaíon which enjoys statutory independence in the disbursal of its funds. I have referred the Deputy's representations on behalf of this group to An Comhairle for their consideration.
However, I would like to take this opportunity to put on record my appreciation of the contribution which St. Mary's Brass and Reed Band and other such groups make to the cultural life of the nation.
