Vol. 503 No. 3
4 Ms McManus asked the Taoiseach the amount allocated in 1999 for grants under the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust Act, 1988; the amount paid out to date; if a grant has been made to Leopardstown Hospital; if so, when it will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9007/99]
5 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the amount of money disbursed up to 20 April 1999 by his Department in grants under section 2 of the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust Act, 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9581/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
As a result of moneys made available from the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust in the 1988 and 1992 periods, approximately £2.65 million was allocated to 24 separate projects, including an allocation of £1.1 million to the RNLI and £1 million towards the restoration of the Shannon Erne Waterway.
Arising out of the winding up of the trust, a further £1.5 million approximately 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. Just over £1.1 million 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 shortly and to be in a position to make an announcement of successful applications soon thereafter.
By what amount does the sum of the value of the applications exceed the amount of the money available, namely £1.1 million?
I do not know the precise figure but it is a substantial. There are more than 175 applications, some of which seek substantial amounts of money. I am afraid the demands exceed considerably the £1.1 million available.
What criteria are being used by the Government in making its final decision on the committee's recommendations?
The criteria is the same criteria as in earlier periods to make sure that these projects were relevant to the purpose of the fund. The committee was anxious to follow some of the old rules of the trusts, that they would be cross-Border projects, projects relating to peace and education, and community projects which relate to care. There are a number of applications from homes, institutions and organisations where soldiers received health care or treatment, and from facilities which they still use.
Given the title of the trust and the function of the hospital in Leopardstown, would the Taoiseach agree it is eminently qualified to benefit from the proceeds and, therefore, notwithstanding the validity of any other applications or their bona fides, this body is uniquely well placed to draw down funds? Does he think five months is quite a long time for this process of evaluation? When will a decision be made so that the people, who have written not just to him but to others will be in a position to proceed and make their plans?
Most of the applications I have received would claim to be deserving. I already mentioned the criteria which will apply to the cases to which Deputy Quinn refers.
We are talking about the walking, or in some cases, no longer walking, wounded.
Yes, and that will be considered in the criteria. I have avoided involvement with the matter as an assessment committee is dealing with it. It would be impossible for me to deal with the many letters received from and representations made by all the organisations. The reason for the delay, which I accept is a long one, is that the officials concerned are from the Northern Ireland section of my Department and were also involved in the drafting of the Easter legislation. That having been completed, they now hope to deal with this matter as quickly as possible.
I take it there is no question of this grant allocation being held up until after the local elections – there will be so many disappointed applicants and the Government does not want to hurt anybody's feelings – in view of the suggestion that the lottery applications will be held up until after the local elections for the same reason.
It will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
What does that mean?
The votes will be counted.
