Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
280. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if funding is to be provided by her Department for co-operation with the Northern Ireland funding scheme for 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53520/23]
View answerI am conscious of the importance and the need for cross-border cooperation and how funding projects of this nature celebrate the artistic, cultural, musical heritage of the Island of Ireland on a North/South basis. I recognise also, the challenges involved in arranging projects shared, which often involve significant financial outlay and a great deal of voluntary contribution. In that regard, my Department runs the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Funding Scheme. Funding available under this scheme was capped at €15,000. Full details of this scheme are available on my Departments website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/071b7-co-operation-with-northern-ireland/.
The Scheme is designed to support small self-contained projects which seek to enhance, celebrate or commemorate the artistic, cultural, musical, film or heritage of the Island of Ireland on a North/South basis. Projects funded under the Scheme must have a clearly demonstrable North/South Element and should meet a specific cultural need. Projects should be creative and innovative, and examples of projects which could be considered for funding under the scheme include, but are not limited to, projects which:
1. Promote co-operation and joint initiatives between organisations and institutions on a North/South basis;
2. Promote cultural tourism on a North/South basis;
3. Promote the provision of cultural outreach programmes on a North/South basis.
The 2023 Co-operation with the Northern Ireland Scheme was open for applications on the Department’s website until the 9th June. Under this scheme in 2023 I approved allocations amounting to €187,015 to support 16 cultural projects with significant cross-border elements. The successful applications are in final stage of payment. In 2022, I allocated over €169,233 to 15 projects across the country which was an increase on the previous year's funding.
It is currently envisaged that my Department will run the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Funding Scheme again in 2024 and I plan to launch this in the first quarter of the year. In this context, it may be useful to monitor my Departments website and apply upon the announcement of the scheme. This scheme is subject to a competitive assessment process.
