Vol. 498 No. 1
7 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach the proposed events to be commemorated and the initiatives planned in relation to the allocation of £200,000 in the 1999 Estimates for his Department under the heading commemorative initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25566/98]
8 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has for future activities of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in relation to the allocation of £80,000 in the 1999 Estimates for his Department; the purposes for which the money will be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25567/98]
9 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the criteria his Department will use to make grants under section 2 of the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust Act, 1998; the reason for the reduction in this allocation in the 1999 Estimate for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26414/98]
10 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the way in which it is proposed to spend the sum allocated to the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in the 1999 Estimates for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26415/98]
11 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the meetings, if any, he envisages for the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26523/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 11, inclusive, together.
The allocation in the 1999 Estimates which relates to the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation is primarily intended to allow for the contingency of the forum having one or more meetings in 1999. I set out my views on the future of the forum in my reply to a parliamentary question on the subject on 6 October last.
My Department frequently receives requests for Government support for projects and events of a commemorative nature. The purpose of the funding provided for under the heading ‘commemoration initiatives' is to allow for the possibility of such support in appropriate cases. This could include support for some residual projects relating to the commemoration of the Famine and 1798. Additional funding of £200,000 was provided in the budget for commemoration initiatives, including the JFK Trust's Dunbrody Project in 1999.
Concerning the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust, advertisements were placed recently in newspapers here, in Northern Ireland and in Britain, inviting applications for projects to be funded under the Act. Regarding the criteria for allocating funds, I am circulating an information sheet, which is also being sent to those requesting application forms and which sets out the criteria in question.
There is a specific amount of funding — £1.49 million — available in connection with the winding up of the trust. Approximately £200,000 will be spent in 1998, £800,000 is provided in the Estimate for 1999 and the remainder will be spent in the years immediately following. The amount in the Estimate for 1999 is a realistic assessment of the expenditure that will occur in 1999, given that, while it is intended to allocate all of the money available early next year, following the completion of the assessment process, it is expected that at least some of the projects will require to be funded in subsequent years.
With regard to the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust, will the Government consider spending additional money at the war memorial at Islandbridge to bring it up to a new, higher standard of presentation in view of the fact that it commemorates the soldiers and sailors for whom this fund was established? In regard to Question No. 7, will the Taoiseach indicate why the provision for commemorations has been cut this year from £350,000 last year to £200,000 this year? With regard to Question No. 8, will the Taoiseach indicate what happened to the £80,000 voted last year for the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation? Was it spent and, if not, what was done with the money?
With regard to the Deputy's first question, I will look at the matter. I believe an application may have to be submitted. I will check the position on the Kilmainham centre. Money was previously spent by the fund on that.
Given that it is no longer in the Taoiseach's constituency he should not lose interest in it.
It still is and will be until the next general election. It was not included when I first allocated money to it as Minister for Finance.
That is true.
Most of the fund for the Forum on Peace and Reconciliation was spent but it was money carried over. If I recall correctly, the forum met only once in 1998. There may have been some money left over, but previous accounts paid for that meeting.
Last year the figure for commemorative events was to cover the bicentenary of 1798. There was a programme of commemorative events and there was also a carry over from Famine commemorative events. Most of those are completed, but there might be some outstanding bills related to l798 commemorative events that will carry over into 1999.
In respect of Question No. 7, has the Government any plans to commemorate in 1999 the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Ireland?
I do not believe there are any plans to do that at this stage. It is not on the list of commemorative events before me.
Does the Taoiseach consider it appropriate that the event should be commemorated after 50 years?
Perhaps it should be. The Deputy is the first person to raise it with me.
