Vol. 428 No. 6
156 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will give details of the grant aid available under the heritage funds for the repair of old houses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The National Heritage Council distributes national lottery funds, subject to my approval, to heritage projects including architectural projects which come within its specific terms of reference. The procedure is that applicants must complete a detailed application form and, in the case of architectural projects, must submit an architect's report, drawings and a detailed breakdown of cost. Completed applications to the National Heritage Council are considered in the first instance by a committee of the Council and then by the full Council. I have arranged for an application form to be forwarded to the person referred to by the Deputy, who should not hesitate to contact the Secretariat of the Council to discuss this project.
The assessment of applications and decisions about whether or not to offer grant assistance are matters entirely for the Council.
157 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will give a grant of £100,000 to the Burren Display Centre, Kilfenora, County Clare, from the heritage council budget, to ensure the continued viability of the centre, to facilitate the completion of the proposed extension, and to promote good relations between communities in north Clare, thus ensuring widespread benefit from the extra visitors, which the completed national park project will attract to the area.
The National Heritage Council operates a formal procedure of grant application and assessment of requests for funding.
I understand that no formal application for grant assistance has been received by the National Heritage Council to develop the Burren Display Centre, Kilfenora, Co. Clare. I understand from the Council that application forms were made available to the Display Centre in February 1990, March 1992 and March 1993 but none of these were returned. Applications to the National Heritage Council are considered on their merits by the Council which is independent in deciding on the priorities for grant assistance and the amount to be recommended, if any, in each case.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware I am very favourably disposed to the further development of the Burren Display Centre at Kilfenora and he can rest assured that I will not be found wanting in that regard.
I have been and remain deeply disturbed by the damage to community relationships in North County Clare that the recent controversy has created and all my efforts to date have been and remain aimed at achieving consensus and reconciliation, and it is my hope that all public representatives in the County will assist in achieving this reconciliation.
158 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will give a grant to the Clare Heritage Centre, Corofin, County Clare, from the budget of the heritage council, to enable the centre to benefit with the Burren Display Centre, Kilfenora from the extra visitors, which the completed national park project will attract to the area.
I understand that, shortly after it was established in 1988, the National Heritage Council received an application for grant assistance in respect of the development of a genealogy research centre at Corofin, Co. Clare. As genealogy does not come within the Council's terms of reference the request was refused. However, the Deputy should be aware that the Department of the Taoiseach facilitated the genealogy centre in receiving funding from EC Structural Funds through Bord Fáilte and from the International Fund for Ireland. My Department is now responsible for the Irish Genealogical Project.
On foot of a further request from the Clare Heritage Centre an application form was sent to the Manager of the Centre in October 1991, but this has not been returned. The Council will only consider requests for funding which are submitted on the application form, which elicits full details about the proposed project. The Council is independent in deciding on the priorities for grant assistance and the amount to be recommended, if any, in each case.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware I am very favourably disposed to the further development of the Clare Heritage Centre at Corofin and he can rest assured that I will not be found wanting in that regard.
