Vol. 543 No. 4
9 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if additional funds can be found to grant aid the Castleblayney Arts and Community Resource Centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27224/01]
At present I have no funds at my disposal from which this project could be assisted. However, given the particular circumstances of this case, I am investigating the feasibility of securing additional funding to enable me to support the project.
Unfortunately, especially in the current economic situation, it seems more difficult than ever to obtain money for such projects. The group concerned met the Minister recently, but it is difficult for it to understand how its project did not receive funding. It is an integrated project which is very important to the area. It is located in a town which has been hard pressed as a result of the Border situation. Six projects in County Clare received £3.3 million.
The Deputy should ask a question.
Is there anything this group can do to get its project up to a higher level to ensure that it will receive funding this year? It is vital for it to receive funding this year, otherwise it may lose cross-Border funding.
I acknowledge that this particular project is dear to Deputy Crawford's heart. He has discussed it with me on a number of occasions. In the past few weeks I met a deputation from the group – that was arranged by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle – to discuss this matter with the project's promoters. Unfortunately, this project did not get through the independent process and, as such, it could not be considered by me. I understand that in many ways this is an exceptional project. The Deputy is correct in saying that it is an integrated, cross-Border project which is supported on a cross-party basis. He also referred to funds that might be available to the project because of its proximity to the Border. For all these reasons, I am doing my utmost to investigate the feasibility of securing additional funding so as to be able to deal with this specific case which I believe is one of merit.
I urge the Minister to ensure that every effort is made to that end. I realise the situation is difficult but more funding is needed.
