Tony Killeen
Ceist:90 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the level of funding approved by his Department in respect of the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship project; and the amount expended to date. [14823/96]
Written Answers. - Famine Ship Project.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I recently decided to approve in principle funding towards the cost of an authentic reconstruction of the Jeanie Johnston from funds at my disposal under the cultural development incentives scheme, which I am administering under the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-1999. Subject to a number of outstanding issues relating to the project being resolved to the satisfaction of my Department a grant offer, to an absolute maximum amount of £750,000, will be made to the developers of the project.
The Deputy will also be aware that in the 1995 budget a special grant of £50,000 was allocated towards the cost of developing this project. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this amount was paid in full by my Department to the developers of the project on 24 November 1995.