asked the Taoiseach if the Cullenswood House Association applied to his Department in March 1988 for funding from the national lottery in order to enable them to undertake the restoration of Cullenswood House, Dublin 6; when a decision will be made on this application; when the moneys will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ranelagh (Dublin) Project Funding.
12.
The Cullenswood House Association made initial inquiries to the National Heritage Council in February 1989 about assistance towards the restoration of Cullenswood House, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. The association submitted a formal application to the council in May 1989 for a grant of £230,000.
I understand that the council, which has complete independence in its assessment of projects, has now notified the association that they are unable to aid this project from the funds available. The council's assessment of any application is based on the intrinsic, in this case archirectural merit of the project. They judge this building to be low on any list of priorities of buildings of architectural importance.
I am grateful for the Taoiseach's reply and would point to an inaccurracy in the question in that the date should read May 1989 instead of March 1988. Having regard not just to the architectural associations and merits of this building but also to its cultural connections in relation to the birth of the first allIrish language school in modern times, is the Taoiseach saying to the House that there will be no State funding for the restoration of Cullenswood House, notwithstanding its Irish language cultural connections?
I am not saying that. I am saying that their application to the Heritage Council did not succeed. Perhaps other avenues could be pursued.
Their application was for support from the lottery funds and that application was diverted to the Heritage Council. Since I suspect that the Taoiseach's sympathies would be positive in this regard, will he outline to me, as one of the Deputies concerned with this building, what other avenue they could explore with the prospect of success?
I would like to have an opportunity to look at it again.