Vol. 500 No. 5
25 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the organisations which received funding from the Cultural Relations Committee of his Department during 1998; the amount in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1314/99]
The Cultural Relations Committee (CRC) is a voluntary, non-statutory body, established in 1949. Its members are appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to advise on the distribution of financial grants from the allocation for cultural relations abroad made to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The purpose of these grants is to give support in other countries to Irish cultural activities of excellence. In deciding on the activities to be assisted, attention is also given to their potential to promote tourism and investment from abroad. Proposals are considered for events, for example, performances, exhibitions, lectures the full costs of which are not available to those involved in their organisation or performance. Decisions on the disbursement of funds are made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs based on the Cultural Relations Committee's recommendations.
I have already made available in December 1998 details of the grants for 1997 in response to Deputy Sargent's parliamentary question. The figures for 1998 are in the course of finalisation and I will make them available to the Deputy.
