Michael Noonan
Question:4 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach the total cost of all millennium projects and events which were funded by Government; if there are outstanding payments due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9622/01]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Millennium Projects.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:5 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if his Department has received final accounts for the production of the Messiah XXI, held under the auspices of the Millennium Committee; if profits have been returned; if moneys have been paid over to charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9629/01]
Trevor Sargent
Question:6 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the total cost of projects undertaken in the Government's millennium programme. [10556/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:7 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the total cost of all millennium projects funded by the Government, either directly or through the offices of the Millennium Committee. [14023/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together.
The Government allocated a total of £33 million for the millennium programme in 1999-2000. The National Millennium Committee was established to advise on suitable projects for inclusion in the programme and to set up a system for supporting commemorative events at local and community levels. Funding was awarded to projects on the basis of the committee's recommendations. Almost 2,400 projects and events were supported, including flagship projects such as the millennium candle, the millennium forest, as well as projects of national and regional significance, projects celebrating the Christian jubilee, nearly 200 community-based projects and almost 2,000 commemorative events. A comprehensive information, marketing and promotion campaign was implemented in support of the programme and its projects.
By the end of 2000, almost £18.5 million had been drawn down from the fund for millennium projects. A further £1.8 million has been drawn down so far as this year, bringing the total to more than £20 million. The rate of further draw-downs during this year will depend on the speed of development of the remaining projects. At this stage I expect most of the remaining projects will be in a position to request their awards in full by the end of the year. Some of the larger capital projects may take a little longer.
With respect to the millennium award to Messiah XXI Productions Limited, I can confirm that since the Deputy previously raised this matter, the Secretary General of my Department met the company and gained firm assurances on the submission of its report and accounts. I can further confirm that a copy of the report and accounts covering the period 19 February 1999 to 30 September 2000 was received in the Department at the end of January this year. I intend placing a summary of these accounts in the Oireachtas Library.
The decision of the National Millennium Committee to recommend to the Government an award of £700,000 of millennium funding towards the cost of the Messiah XXI project was unanimous. The committee's view was that the project was entirely suitable for inclusion in the millennium programme. It had a strong Christian theme, historical associations with our capital city and was to be broadcast on national television.
The purpose of the award was to ensure the production took place and, importantly, that it would be broadcast by RTE. As with all millennium awards, the funding provided was a once-off grant, not a loan. Accordingly, the national millennium committee was not looking for a financial return. With such an ambitious project, the likelihood of it subsequently making large profits was regarded by the committee as very unlikely to say the least. The committee's principal concern was that the production would be available to be seen by as many of the population as possible and that objective was achieved.
Messiah XXI Productions Limited had offered to donate a portion of its net after tax profits to Irish charities and the National Millennium Committee ensured this offer was pledged in a formal manner. As I have said previously in the House, I was not optimistic about a significant donation to charity. I will be delighted if it turns out otherwise. However, this will depend on whatever commercial success Messiah XXI Productions Limited has in selling the broadcasting rights, videos, etc. I wish the company every success in this regard. In the meantime, I have asked the millennium office to continue to monitor the situation.
While the Minister of State provided a great deal of information, he did not outline whether there is any surplus in the accounts to September 2000, which he intends to place in the Oireachtas Library. Is there any prospect of profit?
There is no prospect of profit. The company is still trying to make sales of the video and CD of the production in the American market. It is extremely unlikely to make any profit on the production, as I hinted the last time we debated this issue in the House, and it will not be able to make any donation to charity, as was pledged. The company pledged to make a donation out of any profits made but it is clear from the abridged accounts in the Oireachtas Library that it is unlikely to make any such profits and, therefore, the funding is still considered a grant.
Is there a surplus or a deficit in the accounts the Minister of State intends to lodge in the Oireachtas Library?
There is a deficit so far but the company is still maintaining its sales effort in the United States of the video and CD of the production. The abridged balance sheet and income account which I have lodged in the Oireachtas Library show a deficit and, therefore, there is no obligation on the company to make a donation to charity. However, the deficit is the company's, not the State's.
How many trees were planted under the trees project? Who owns the trees and what will happen to them in 20 years, for example?
They will be privatised, like the teachers.
Approximately 1.4 million trees, primarily oak trees, were planted, the equivalent of one per household in the State. That was the millennium aspect to the project. All the trees were planted on land controlled by Coillte and are State-owned. Every household has a certificate and in the spirit of the millennium I do not expect 1.4 million law cases seeking ownership of trees.
The Minister of State referred to law cases. I presume if a citizen and family have been presented with a certificate which states they own a tree, that means they have a proprietorial right and any plans to privatise Coillte, which the Minister for Finance would love to do, would run the risk of a legal challenge. Is that a fair interpretation of the current position?
No. The certificates and the accompanying literature are clear that the tree is planted in the name of each household. The certificate which was sent to people states the tree was planted in the name of their family and they therefore have access to it. It is not a legal ownership of the tree.
Could we ask the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs to scramble up these trees, to do a thorough inspection of them and to report on their state of health?
It is apt that Deputy Quinn should make that comment because the former Deputy Ray Burke planted the temporary trees in my constituency during that famous by-election. People who got those certificates think they own a tree. Was it one big gimmick or what was its purpose?
No, Deputy. Ireland has been short of oak trees and it is not commercial to plant and develop them. The millennium committee took the view that restoring our native woodlands would be a good gesture to mark the passing from one century and millennium to another. To follow the theme of the millennium committee to involve as many people as possible to make it a people's millennium, we took the decision to plant 1.4 million trees in the name of each household in the State. It was a gesture which indicated this was being done in the name of the household. I do not think anyone understood it as legal ownership. If something is sent to 1.4 million households, one can expect a flurry of correspondence. I did not receive letters or telephone calls asking me for the deeds of the site.
The Minister of State should wait until he starts trying to privatise Coillte.