Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 October 2014
13. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will support a process whereby arts organisations may apply for capital funding for projects, including from organisations like the international uilleann pipe visitor centre (details supplied) Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, which, if granted, could also be used by other arts and inner city community groups. [40057/14]
View answerI am aware of a recent report referred to by the Deputy. I understand that project costs in this case are estimated at over €5m and that Na Píobairí Uilleann is seeking €2.5m of this from the public purse. My Department does not have a capital budget to support new projects of this magnitude. The limited capital funding available at present for cultural infrastructure and development is being used to complete projects that were approved for funding a number of years ago. Indeed, due to budgetary constraints, no major capital projects of this nature have been approved by my Department in recent years and there are no plans at present to introduce a new cultural infrastructure capital development programme.
I should say that Na Píobairí Uilleann received a grant of €1m in capital funding from my Department in the period 2007 to 2013 towards the cost of restoring its headquarters at 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, and towards the costs of an uileann pipe making project.
