Vol. 513 No. 3
119 Mr. Gormley asked the Taoiseach the groups, if any, from the Dublin 4, Dublin 6 and Dublin 8 areas which applied for financial assistance from the National Millennium Committee; the groups which received funding; the amount received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2244/00]
The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. Millennium funding was in the main provided for national projects. However, funding was also provided for millennium projects and events at a local level under the millennium recognition awards, administered by Area Development Management Limited and the millennium events awards which were administered by the local authorities.
Should the Deputy have a particular query in relation to a project or an application under these headings I would be pleased to provide the information.
120 Mr. Yates asked the Taoiseach if, in relation to the decision to grant aid a millennium project (details supplied) in County Wexford, he will outline to whom information was given in relation to the grant; whether his attention was drawn to the fact that incomplete or incorrect information may have been announced locally; if he has satisfied himself as to the way details of such grants are made available to local public representatives; if he will ensure that representations from Deputies on behalf of projects are fully dealt with and that the sponsors of projects are informed in a proper fashion; if the level of grant aid of £10,000 announced through the local media will be honoured in view of the fact that the information available is that the millennium committee only granted £5,000 towards this project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2259/00]
Representations from the Deputy on behalf of the millennium proposal for floodlighting and installing a millennium church bell referred to in his question were received by the Millennium Office on 10 May 1999 and were acknowledged the following day. Further representations by the Deputy to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation on this proposal were referred to the Millennium Office and they were acknowledged on 18 May 1999.
The millennium proposal concerned was submitted to the National Millennium Committee at the earliest opportunity. Following consideration of the matter, the committee made a recommendation to award up to £5,000 towards the cost of the floodlighting aspect of the proposal, subject to confirmation of details.
121 Mr. Gormley asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on events organised by the National Millennium Committee on New Year's Eve. [2636/00]
The primary focus of the National Millennium Committee is to advise the Government on suitable projects for inclusion in its Millennium Programme 1999-2000. In addition to advising on projects and in response to proposals received, the millennium committee also made recommendations to the Government on the funding of events to mark the millennium, including on new year's eve.
The major national event on new year's eve was the Last Light of the Millennium ceremony. This national event aimed to ensure that the whole country, regardless of age, religious belief, or income level could participate in a memorable and symbolic ceremony turning darkness into light as the sun went down for the last time on the twentieth century and the second millennium.
In the capital city, new year's eve was celebrated with a free concert which was organised at Merrion Square. This major event, which ran from 2.30 p.m. to 1.00 a.m., featured a wide range of artists including top names in the Irish music scene and attracted a total audience upwards of 40,000 people. In addition, the concert was a main feature on RTE's millennium broadcast during the day.
New year's eve was also celebrated in Dublin with the permanent illumination of eleven bridges along the River Liffey, transforming the quays into "a Liffey of Light" culminating in a spectacular fireworks display in Dublin Bay to mark the beginning of the new millennium.
