Vol. 568 No. 3
11 Mr. English asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has completed the audit of projects funded under the ACCESS programme; the level of funding drawn down to date under this programme; the number of approved projects that will not now go ahead; the way in which he intends to use the savings that will result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16174/03]
My Department has recently completed an examination of all projects approved for ACCESS funding. To date, over €6.2 million has been drawn down under this programme. On the basis of the examination it is considered that variations from what was projected are more likely to result in delays rather than projects not proceeding at all and savings would therefore not arise.
Can the Minister indicate the number of projects which will definitely not go ahead under this scheme? Are there any projects which will not proceed?
I do not have the information the Deputy seeks at present. I do not know how many projects will not proceed.
In the event that some projects do not proceed, as I understand they will not, will the Minister reallocate the money to projects which were approved but may not have received sufficient funding? Will money be allocated to projects which were unsuccessful in applying for money under the programme and which have major financial requirements such as the Tintain project in Ballybunion?
The difficulty which arises is that if a project does not proceed at this point in time, it will be due to the fact that it cannot reach the time schedule. A project which is approved now could not hope to catch up with a project which started much earlier but failed to reach the time schedule. I will certainly be prepared to look at projects whose schedules are realistic and achievable in the context of redistribution.
