Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:68 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Taoiseach the position in relation to an application for funding under the soldiers and sailors scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9052/99]
Written Answers. - Soldiers and Sailors Scheme.
Arising out of the winding up of the trust, a further £1,495,597 has been made available to be disbursed under the terms of the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust Act, 1988. Commitments have already been entered into amounting to £343,762. Of this, £150,000 was allocated to the Peace Park at Messines, Belgium; £180,000 to the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool, and £13,762 towards the Irish Peace Bell at Messines. A total of £1,151865 remains for allocation to applicants who responded to advertisements placed by my Department. The closing date for receipt of applications was 15 December 1998.
An assessment committee, comprising representatives from my Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Finance, was established to make recommendations to me regarding the disbursement of the funds from the trust. I expect to receive the recommendations of the committee very shortly. I expect to be in a position to make an announcement of successful applications very soon thereafter.