Vol. 449 No. 4
55 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the names of the organisations and the amounts of money each organisation received through the culture committee of his Department in 1993 and 1994; the total amount for 1995; and if groups involved in traditional music, song and dance will be assisted in 1995. [4006/95]
The cultural relations committee is a voluntary body appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to advise on the merits of Irish artistic and cultural projects to be undertaken abroad and recommend whether or not such projects should be assisted financially from the annual allocation for cultural relations available through my Department. The allocation for cultural relations in 1993 amounted to £213,000. It was increased to £400,000 in 1994 and remains at that level for 1995.
Grants are made for a wide range of activities — exhibitions in the fields of arts and literature, theatre and dance companies, music groups and performers, conferences and lectures on topics of Irish interest, exchanges of cultural and academic personalities and donations of books to libraries and universities abroad. Request for assistance towards groups involved in traditional music, song and dance are of course given the same careful consideration by the committee as are all applications it receives.
The Deputy has asked for details of the organisations in receipt of funding from the allocation of cultural relations for 1993 and 1994, together with the amounts of money involved. I shall have this information which is voluminous sent to the Deputy in the form he has requested.
