Vol. 439 No. 3
120 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if any of the State's artefacts or works of art have been damaged or mislaid while on loan; if he has satisfied himself with the existing regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am pleased to assure the Deputy that each of the national cultural institutions takes very seriously its responsibility for that portion of the national heritage entrusted to its care. I am informed by them that items are lent only to those institutions which can satisfy the highest standards of care and security and that no artefacts have been damaged or mislaid while on loan. In the light of these assurances, I am satisfied with the existing arrangements pertaining to the loan of the State's artefacts.
121 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the funding available from his Department and other sources for local historic projects, particularly those with artistic content.
The only funds available from my Department at present for the type of projects mentioned in the question are those allocated to the National Heritage Council. The Council's budget in 1994 is £1.55 million, of which £0.5 million is given to the Discovery Programme. The remainder is distributed among various projects in the specific areas of archaeology, architecture, flora, fauna, landscape, heritage gardens and certain inland waterways.
Deputies will be aware that Structural Funds have been put at my disposal to provide funding for arts and culture infrastructure under the National Development Plan 1994-1999. However, since the details of the plan are currently under discussion with the European Commission, it will be some time yet before there will be final agreement on the Plan's components. It will be only after this process has been completed that I will be in a position to establish precise criteria for eligibility for assistance under my capital allocations.
