Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
316. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the status of an application for a community hall (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23584/20]
View answerLate last year, a new €4.7m capital investment scheme was launched for arts and culture centres across the country. Applications were invited for the Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 and the closing date was in January. The Scheme focuses on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres that operate as not-for-profit organisations throughout the country and that have a clearly defined arts and culture focus.
This scheme has a particular emphasis on the reduction of carbon footprints to dovetail with the Government’s action on climate change. The Scheme builds on the success of the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 which saw grants allocated to 134 organisations in 26 counties to refurbish and enhance their facilities. This funding is provided from a €40m capital investment allocation for local arts and culture infrastructure contained in Project Ireland 2040 “Investing in our Culture, Language & Heritage 2018-2027'. There were three schemes with
- Stream A offering grants up to €50,000 for small enhancement/expansion/ refurbishment projects which may involve construction works to arts and culture facilities and/or upgrading of equipment.
- Stream B will offer grants from €50,000 up to €300,000 for larger enhancement /expansion/ refurbishment projects involving construction works to arts and culture facilities.
- Stream C is a separate scheme aimed at the upgrading of visual artists’ workspaces. Applications for this Stream were managed by Visual Artists Ireland.
Assessment and final decision on applications were delayed and put on hold as a result of COVID-19 with my Department opening Stream D, a further stream of funding under this overall scheme. This was specifically for capital adaptations or equipment necessary to assist arts and culture organisations in re-opening.
In the meantime a number of applicants under Streams A&B including the one to which the Deputy refers were contacted and given an opportunity to resubmit the outstanding documentation by 7 August. These are currently at assessment stage and it is hoped that announcements will be made later this year.
