The CDIS funds will be exhausted in 1999 but Members can rest assured that my Department will fight to ensure that further funding will be forthcoming in the year 2000. I hope that such funding will be secured because it has proved of tremendous assistance to arts infrastructure throughout the country.
As a result of the mid-term review of the CDIS funds, it was important to ensure that those projects on the list complied with the various conditions — one of which was that they would be able to complete the work before the end of the current operational programme in 1999. It was never intended that these funds would be allocated in respect of the operational costs of the centres. As already stated, the intention behind the funding was the establishment of an infrastructure. It was the responsibility of the community, individuals or committee involved with the centres to ensure that this would remain an ongoing concern and it was taken into account when deciding whether projects would be included on the initial list for funding.
Opposition Deputies tabled a number of questions regarding individual centres and projects which might have been included on the initial list but which were not given funding because they could not comply with the conditions. One of those conditions stipulates that projects should be supported by, for example, a county council to ensure its viability. If such support was not forthcoming and the centre failed, the money spent from the CDIS on that project would revert to the EU at the expense of the Exchequer.
The conditions were twofold: first, to ensure fairness for all, namely, when the conditions were complied with the money would be forthcoming; and, second, to ensure that if this was not so the money would be made available for projects which could be completed in 1999. With regard to the operational costs of the centres and their future, it is the responsibility of those advocating and supporting the projects to ensure they are sustainable.
Deputy Kenny referred to a project in my constituency, the proposed folk music centre in Ennis, which is dear to my heart and which, unfortunately, did not receive the support of the previous Government for inclusion on the list for CDIS funding. This project was on the books for a long period before the break-up of the previous Administration, when there was no movement in respect of funding for it. On assuming office I stated I would revisit the file because the project is of particular interest to me. I have been working assiduously with members of the county council, the urban district council and the local committee run by Joe Malone.