Vol. 515 No. 5
22 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, she has to develop the arts and cultural infrastructure in the regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6380/00]
28 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, she has to support the development of county projects and community projects in the arts and cultural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6379/00]
I propose that Questions Nos. 22 and 28 be taken together.
Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 the Government is committed to facilitating the further development of the State's arts and culture infrastructure. The previous programme of development under the cultural development incentive scheme, which was part funded by the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999, has facilitated an increase in the number of arts facilities and venues in the regions, the provision of which will facilitate greater access and participation in the arts for all our citizens.
I am finalising a new support capital programme to assist further necessary development in this area. The new programme that I will be putting in place will have three strands, first, the provision of new regional, city and county projects to fill gaps in existing facilities, second, the redevelopment of existing arts and culture infrastructure and, third, the programme will assist the development of community based projects. The regional provision of facilities will be taken into consideration in all strands of the programme.
The programme will have an application and assessment process and I hope to be in a position to formally launch the new programme and to make a call for applications in the near future.
