Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 8

Written Answers. - Structural Funding.

Síle de Valera

Question:

106 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the amount of EU Structural Funds secured by his Department for 1995 onwards; the way in which he intends to distribute such moneys; and his priorities when distributing these moneys. [7241/95]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

The following funds which include matching Exchequer and other funds have been allocated to my Department for the period 1994-1999 in the context of the following Operational Programmes:

Tourism Operational Programme	£125.256m
Including National Monuments, Parks, Waterways and National and Regional Cultural activities.
Industry Operational Programme
— Gaeltacht Sub-Programme	£71.2m
— Film	£15.58m
Fisheries Operational Programme
— Gaeltacht Harbours	£7.46m
Cohesion Funding	£3.9m
Total	£223.396m

Under the Tourism Operational Programme £57.85 million has been allocated to my Department for spending on heritage projects. I have allocated £28.55 million of this sum for expenditure on national monuments and historic properties, £6.65 million on national parks and nature reserves and £22.65 million on inland waterways. The purpose of these projects is to preserve and present to the public important features of our physical heritage while at the same time contributing to the development of the tourist industry and to employment creation.

The balance of the funding under the Tourism Operational Programme is envisaged for expenditure in respect of the development of important national and regional cultural facilities. Investment will be directed at the major national cultural institutions, including the National Museum at Collins Barracks. Funds will also be made available for regional initiatives and the establishment of a capital programme for the arts in co-operation with local authority/private contributions. The priorities in all these areas will be the development of the tourist potential of cultural enterprises at national, regional and local level.

In relation to film, £13 million will be spent on capital investment within the film industry and £2.58 million will be spent on training. The distribution of funds will be on the basis of support for appropriate projects.

The funds under the Gaeltacht Sub-Programme of the Industry Operational Programme will be used to support the development of new and existing industries in the Gaeltacht by way of finance for industry, training and recruitment incentives, advisory and support services and provision of industrial space. Assistance will be available under the Fisheries Operational Programme to improve harbour facilities in Gaeltacht areas.