Vol. 473 No. 3
12 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the amount of money which has been approved in 1996 and which will be provided in 1997 for the refurbishment of theatres and arts centres; and if he has satisfied himself with the speed of the allocation of these funds. [24806/96]
16 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the total amount of money allocated for the arts in 1995; the areas to which these moneys have been allocated; the specific amounts allocated on an area by area basis; and the composition of the advisory committee promised by him to determine criteria for the distribution of the remaining funds. [24856/96]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimhir 12 agus 16 le chéile.
It is my understanding that the text of both questions refers to the cultural development incentives scheme (CDIS) which I am administering under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999. On this basis I propose to circulate in the Official Report details, on a county basis, of the 25 projects which I have to date approved, in principle, for funding under the CDIS. The total amount of grant assistance approved, in principle, by me in respect of these 25 projects is £13.694 million, of which £5.537 million is in respect of nine theatre projects and £4.770 million is in respect of ten arts centre projects. As these decisions were only made and announced by me this year, it follows that the bulk of expenditure under the CDIS will take place in 1997 and subsequent years. To date a total of £136,216 has been expended on the scheme. There were no allocations made under the CDIS in 1995.
The present estimate is that expenditure on CDIS projects in 1997 will be of the order of £10.2 million. This amount covers costs associated with the 25 projects I have to date approved, in principle, for funding and also costs which may arise in respect of successful projects under the final phase of the scheme, applications for which must be submitted to my Department by 10 January 1997.
The advisory committee for this scheme which was established in January, 1996, comprises representatives of the following organisations:— my own Department, which chairs the committee; the Department of Tourism and Trade; An Comhairle Ealaíon; the Heritage Council; the County and City Managers' Association; and the General Council of County Councils.
Projects Approved in Principle for Funding Under the Cultural Development Incentives Scheme.
The development of a cultural centre, including theatre facilities, at Doolin, County Clare — £90,000.
The development of, and extension to, existing facilities at the Cork Public Museum, Cork city — £900,000.
The restoration and refurbishment to contemporary theatre standards of the Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork city — £350,000.
The provision of a 200 seat art house cinema in Cork city — £100,000.
The provision of additional theatre facilities at the Cork Opera House, Cork city — £375,000.
The conversion of the old cinema in Macroom, County Cork to provide a theatre and associated facilities — £150,000.
The provision of a modern theatre facility in Letterkenny, County Donegal — £1,500,000.
