Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Ministers and their officials. I wish to deal with subhead A2 of Vote 33, which had a provisional outturn for 2012 of €907,000 and for which the Estimate for 2013 is €1.337 million - this is an non-pay item. What accounts for the large increase in 2013 compared to the outturn in 2012? Can I have a breakdown from the Minister of what this measure funded?

Subhead A7 deals with cultural infrastructure and development. The 2013 Estimate is €5.29 million and I understand Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is funded through this measure. Will the Minister explain how much Comhaltas will receive in 2013 and what other bodies are funded through this measure? He might also outline to the committee what are the criteria to receive and qualify for funding under that measure?

Subhead A3 concerns the acquisition of works for the State to enhance the national collection. Is the Minister aware of any art pieces that the banks, particularly the covered institutions owned by the State, might care to donate to the State? Is he aware specifically of any pieces that might be in the ownership of IBRC, for example, in its Treasury Room, which may be of interest to the State and to the Minister in terms of the public's enjoyment of the art, given we effectively own some of the covered institutions?