Vol. 479 No. 2
36 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to community arts groups in each of the years from 1991 to 1996; the further plans, if any, he has for developing community arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12651/97]
The level of current funding allocated to community arts groups by my Department since its establishment in 1993 is as follows: 1993, Nil; 1994, £75,000; 1995, £81,000; 1996, £226,107. The Deputy will also be aware that during 1996 I made allocations totalling £13.694 million in respect of 25 projects under the cultural development incentives scheme which I am administering under the EU Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-1999. Of this amount I allocated a sum of £2.67 million in respect of nine projects which are being directly promoted by community arts groups. With regard to the other 16 projects which were allocated funding in 1996, I am confident that all will be accessible and available for use by local communities.
The Deputy will also appreciate that in addition to the funding allocated by my Department to community arts groups during the period 1993-96, substantial funding was also made available by An Chomhairle Ealaíon for projects in this area. Details of this funding can be found in the annual reports of An Chomhairle for the years in question.
With regard to future developments in the area of funding for community arts groups the Deputy should be aware that CAFE — Creative Arts for Everyone — a non governmental arts organisation is currently undertaking on my behalf an arts awarness intervention programme. This intervention involves unemployed people, partaking in and experiencing the arts. This intervention is scheduled to continue into 1998 at which stage I will review its findings to determine the benefits that would accrue from a further intervention being put in place at that time.
