Vol. 528 No. 2
197 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she received an application for a capital grant for a new arts centre under the access scheme from an organisation (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29845/00]
The closing date for applications under ACCESS, Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme, was 31 October 2000. The total funding package for the scheme is £36 million over the period 2001-2004. More than 170 applications for funding were received including an application from Kilmantin Arts Centre in Wicklow Town. The applications are going through a detailed assessment procedure at present. I expect to be in a position to announce details of funding decisions early in 2001.
198 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the way in which the £1 million provided to a project (details supplied) is to be used; the level of funding provided to this project in the Arts Plan 1999-2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29846/00]
The once off £1 million announced by the Minister for Finance in the budget for the Ark Cultural Centre will help support a practical but visionary action plan which has been developed by the ark to extend its services. The ark has been very successful since it opened in 1995 and is now regarded as a centre of excellence of arts provision for children. However due to this very success its building in Temple Bar has reached operational capacity. The new action plan, which is costed at more than £2 million has the aim of extending access to the arts programmes and activities of the ark through the development of innovative outreach and touring initiatives and through the use of information technology. In particular the action plan will promote initiatives to provide access to the arts for children that for reasons of social or economic exclusion, ill health or special needs cannot access the programmes that take place in the current ark building in Temple Bar.
199 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the way in which the £350,000 provided to the Arts Council in Budget 2001 is to spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29847/00]
The £350,000 referred to is being provided to my Department in 2001 to mark in an appropriate way the 50th Anniversary of the Arts Act, 1951, which established the Arts Council. I am establishing a working group chaired by my Department and including the Arts Council to draw up and implement a programme of commemorative actions and events in 2001.
200 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the amount of funding that has been provided to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann on an annual basis since 1997; the purpose of the funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29848/00]
In order to assist the organisation in the promotion of the Irish language through its activities the following funding was allocated from Ciste na Gaeilge, a fund administered by my Department to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in 1997 and subsequent years:
|
Year |
Purpose of Grant |
Amount £ |
|
1997 |
Administration |
195,000 |
|
1998 |
Administration |
205,000 |
|
Computer Equipment |
5,000 |
|
|
1999 |
Administration |
211,000 |
|
Additional Staff Costs |
20,000 |
|
|
Refurbishment |
15,000 |
|
|
Computer Training |
5,000 |
|
|
Development of Website |
6,000 |
|
|
2000 |
Administration |
240,000 |
|
Seó na Mílaoise |
40,000 |
|
|
Seisiún 2000 |
100,000 |
