Vol. 557 No. 1
337 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the supports which exist to assist community groups in providing stage room and actual platforms to community-type centres in order to maximise the opportunities for staging events of a variety of types; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21578/02]
Under a scheme of capital grants entitled ACCESS, arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme, my Department provides capital grants for various kinds of cultural infrastructure including museums, theatres and art centres and the refurbishment of existing performance spaces. This scheme runs from 2001 to 2004 and it is designed to lead to the provision of high-standard arts and culture infrastructure around the country. It is my hope that it will lead to greater participation in the arts. ACCESS placed particular emphasis on community-based projects and 17 such projects are to receive grant aid out of the 44 projects selected. All the funds available for the ACCESS scheme have been fully allocated.
