Vol. 535 No. 1
473 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will sanction substantial funding under the ACCESS programme to an arts centre (details supplied) in County Mayo located in a disadvantaged area. [11519/01]
The Deputy will be aware that I have secured a total of £36 million of Exchequer funding for the ACCESS programme for the period 2001-04. An initial assessment of all applications received under this scheme has been completed by independent consultants and it has been determined that the Belmullet Arts Centre application has met the broad criteria for eligibility. This and all other eligible projects have undergone a comprehensive evaluation by an assessment committee and, on the basis of this, recommendations on the projects to be supported will shortly be submitted to me for decision. On completing my examination of these recommendations I will be in a position to announce which projects I propose to approve in principle for grant aid subject, of course, to certain conditions.
