Written Answers - Excel Project.
Theresa Ahearn
Question:
23
Mrs. T. Ahearn
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
the funding, if any, her Department is providing towards the Excel project, in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17318/97]
Under Phase II of the Cultural Development Incentives Scheme, which my Department is administering under the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99, an offer of grant assistance to an absolute maximum sum of £650,000 was made on 27 February 1997 towards the cost of developing the Tipperary Excel Arts Centre project in Tipperary Town.
The Deputy will be aware that the Tipperary Excel project is one of 39 projects to which offers, in principle, of funding were made under both phases of the Cultural Development Incentives Scheme (CDIS), The level of interest in this scheme was such that it was possible to offer funding to only a small number of the groups who applied for assistance and, in the vast majority of cases, the funding offers made were considerably less than the grant sought. Nevertheless, all of the groups that were offered funding declared that they were able and willing to take up the offers made and to develop the projects as outlined in their proposals.
My Department has been obliged, in order to ensure the successful operation of the scheme, to seek certain guarantees from each project promoter in relation to issues such as:—
the availability of matching funding to ensure the satisfactory completion of the project within the time frame of the Operational Programme;
the availability of funding to cover subsequent running and maintenance costs of the facility;
the continued use of the facility as a centre for cultural activity.
In relation to Tipperary Excel. I am aware that the promoters are experiencing difficulties in putting together a viable financial package. I have been in communication with the promoters over the last number of months and have made it clear to them that there are no additional funds available to me under the CDIS, or any other source, to allocate to this project.
My offer of grant assistance of £650,000 stands, but it is subject to the promoters being able to present a viable financial and development plan by the notified deadline of 24 October 1997.
