Under the European Union Structural Funds Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99, it is envisaged there will be expenditure of over £67 million on national and regional cultural activities. This will include expenditure on developments at the major national cultural institutions, as well as on regional initiatives and the establishment of a cultural development incentives scheme in co-operation with local authority-private contributions.
While the detailed allocation of all the funds available under the operational programme has not been finalised, funds have been committed at national level to the development of the National Museum at Collins Barracks and investment in a new home in Dublin Castle for the Chester Beatty Library. At regional level, funds have been allocated to Galway and Longford Theatres, Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork and the Hunt Museum, Limerick.
The Deputy will also be aware that I have invited proposals for consideration for funding under the cultural development incentives scheme. This scheme has been over-subscribed which is a good indication in itself, and the process of evaluation of projects has been made extremely complex by both the quantity and quality of the applications received. No decisions have been made yet with regard to the individual projects to receive allocations under the cultural development incentives scheme.
With regard to the composition of the advisory committee to be put in place by me in order to advise on the selection of projects under the cultural development incentives scheme, the committee will comprise of representatives of my Department, An Comhairle Ealaíon and the regions. I hope to establish the committee in the next few weeks.