Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 4

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

225 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the size of grant and the timing, conditions and likelihood of future support for a recent allocation to a group (details supplied) in County Dublin. [1620/97]

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

In general Exchequer funding available to my Department for institutions of the type referred to by the Deputy is intended for allocation to those institutions for which it has statutory responsibility and funds on an ongoing basis. In addition, the cultural development incentives scheme, administered by my Department and co-financed by Structural Funds available under the Operational Programme for Tourism, provides for once-off capital grants for a wide range of groups and bodies meeting the various criteria of the scheme, including the provision of matching domestic funds. I understand the group referred to by the Deputy was not in a position to apply for funding under this scheme.

I am pleased that I was in a position to make a sum of £15,000 available in December 1996 on the condition of it being a once-off grant towards capital costs in respect of works, undertaken by this voluntary group, for the further development of premises to house and preserve a collection of historical vehicles in its care. This payment was made on the basis of receipts and invoices produced by the group in respect of these capital works. The group was also required to produce in due course a certified statement from the group's accountant as to the final disbursement of the funds in question. In the light of the financial resources available to me, I do not envisage being in a position to provide financial support to this venture in 1997 or on an ongoing basis.