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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 5

Written Answers. - Cross-Border Projects.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

81 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, she has to implement cross-Border initiatives within the remit of her Deparment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2983/98]

My Department assists the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation in implementing the cultural-tourism aspects of the Northern Ireland-Ireland Interreg Programme 1994-1999. To date 13 projects have been approved with some £2.13 million allocated from a budget of £3.28 million. My Department also assists the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 1995-1999 under the sub-programme for business and cultural linkages but the operation of the scheme is managed by Co-operation North on an agency basis.

With regard to broadcasting, efforts are continuing to finalise an agreement with the UK authorities which will enable RTE to improve reception of its television services, including Teilifís na Gaeilge, in Northern Ireland.

With regard to waterways, my Department is co-operating with the Rivers Agency of the Department of Agriculture of Northern Ireland, on a feasibility study on the restoration of the Ulster Canal. The purpose of the study is to establish the technical and economic feasibility of restoration of the Ulster Canal for navigation and water recreation.

With regard to the Irish language, discussions are taking place with the authorities in Northern Ireland in relation to education through the medium of Irish with the aim of achieving recognition for such education and improving the facilities available. In addition, work is ongoing in relation to the Columba initiative which the authorities in Ireland, both North and South, and in Scotland are to promote linguistic contact — Irish and Gaelic — between Ireland and Scotland and to foster understanding and co-operation.

Following the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London on 30 June 1995, a steering committee, made up of officials of my Department and of the environment service of the Department of Environment, Northern Ireland, was established to advance North-South co-operation on matters relating to the heritage. To date, the steering committee has taken initiatives in relation to underwater archaeology and historic thatch. A working group at professional level on undewater archaeology is preparing a specification for a proposed joint North-South archaeological survey of Carlingford Lough, which will be submitted to the steering committee for consideration. A working group on historic thatch is currently carrying out a North-South study on historic thatch, which is expected to be published in early autumn.

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