Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 7

Written Answers. - Abbey Theatre Funding.

Ivor Callely

Question:

83 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the level of funding given to the Abbey Theatre on an annual basis for each of the years 1987 to 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9985/95]

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

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the years 1987-93 is available in the annual reports of An Chomhairle Ealaíon for those years, copies of which were laid before the Oireachtas. The information in respect of 1994 and 1995 is as follows:

1994	—	£2,299,000
1995	—	£2,533,000

A once off special grant of £300,000 additional to that provided by An Chomhairle Ealaíon was allocated by my Department to the National Theatre Society Ltd. in December 1994 to assist in clearing the National Theatre Society's accumulated deficit.