Under the cultural development incentives scheme which I am administering under the operational programme for tourism 1994-99, I approved, in principle, on 28 June 1996 an offer of grant assistance to an absolute maximum of £750,000 towards the cost of developing the Tipperary South Riding County Museum. On 19 February 1997 on foot of a revised proposal from Tipperary South Riding County Council, I conveyed my approval for the development of the proposed museum facility on Suir Island, Clonmel. This offer of grant assistance can only be confirmed when a number of outstanding issues relating to the project are resolved to by Department's full satisfaction.