John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has secured a lien on properties of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann; the properties on which such a lien has been acquired or requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23683/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In the operation of capital grant schemes, it is the policy of my Department to seek a legal charge of 22 years' duration on any property in respect of which a capital grant or combined capital grants totalling €300,000 and over have been paid in respect of such premises. My Department holds a statutory declaration under the 1938 Act from the trustees of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann not only for the projects for which legal charges are required but for all moneys allocated and subsequently paid to the organisation. Under this statutory declaration, should any of the facilities cease to be used for the purposes for which grants were paid before the expiration of 22 years, those grants are refundable to the Department.

In the meantime, through the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, which is the appropriate State office for such matters, my Department is in the process of registering a charge on each of the subject properties once the various technical conveyancing requirements are executed. On completion of the registration formalities, a legal charge will be held by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism on each of the properties for 22 years for the total value of the grant.

The Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann projects where the value of the capital grants allocated requires a registered charge on the property in line with my Department's policy are set out in the following table.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have expressed concern about this organisation on several occasions. I stress that this is not a vendetta; my concern arises from representations I have had from people throughout the State, mainly members of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann itself. My priority is that the taxpayer be protected.

I welcome the Minister's decision to seek a lien on the properties that have been funded by the taxpayer. However, I am puzzled as to why he is effectively seeking it after the event. The Minister indicated that the Office of the Chief State Solicitor is currently processing a legal agreement in respect of these projects. Surely the legal agreement should have been secured before the money was paid out. Why is that only being done now? Is it because of concerns expressed by myself and others or otherwise?

There are 12 properties throughout the country funded by the State. When I asked about their ownership, I received an answer referring to leaseholders or owner occupiers. My difficulty is that I do not know the identity of the owner. The Minister has referred to a "group". Who are the members of this group? Does it have a single or several shareholders, how are its assets transferred and what are the procedures for disposal of those assets? Do the various entities of this organisation publish accounts and are they responsible to the Minister in any way?

There is significant cause for concern that this organisation seems to be funded differently from every other arts organisation. Why does it have a special funding line? Why is it not applying for grants under the access programme or otherwise? There must be clarity in this matter. It is up to the Minister to answer the questions about how this organisation is structured, who are its shareholders and beneficial owners and why they are benefiting in a special way.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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To clarify, all legal documentation must be submitted with a grant application, and that has been done. However, several of these projects are taking some time to process and that is being done by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. From the Department's point of view, all the legal requirements are in place. I understand the trustees of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann have signed a statutory declaration under the 1938 Act agreeing to the registration of lease on the subject properties. Clearly, if any of the properties were sold in the meantime, the full grant would be taken back by the Department.

The organisation consists of trustees but I am not in a position to supply any names now.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister be able to do so at any stage?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Department's responsibility is to ensure the grants are properly allocated and that the legal requirements necessary to protect taxpayers' money are in place. The information with which I have been supplied indicates that this has been done.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I also received representations in respect of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. No one denies it does excellent and important work but issues arise with regard to the level of transparency relating to matters of accounting. In addition to the funding provided by the Minister's Department, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs also supplies Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann with a substantial amount of money. Has the time come to examine the overall funding of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in the context of investigating from where it emanates and how it is used?

It appears Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has a monopoly with regard to Government funding for traditional music and culture. Are there other organisations which might benefit from such funding? Due to the fact that Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann seems to have a monopoly, perhaps the organisations to which I refer, and which could benefit from the provision of substantial funding, are being excluded.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy regarding the significance of the contribution made by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann's. In light of current economic circumstances, all of the budget lines are being examined. This is not being done in a negative way but rather to ensure we are obtaining the best value for money in the context of how the resources available to the State are used by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and the other bodies to which we provide funding.

I am aware that there are issues of concern among some of the branches, members, etc., of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. However, I do not want to comment on these issues, particularly as they are internal to the running of the organisation. My responsibility is to ensure the money provided is used properly, especially in the context of properties being made available for the holding of functions in respect of which that money was given in the first instance. I understand that, to date, there has been no problem in this regard. In the overall sense, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann would not necessarily have been excluded from any review that is taking place with regard to the various budget lines.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The point raised by Deputy Upton is of fundamental importance and highlights the difficulties that arise when an organisation of this nature has a monopoly and is the only one being funded by the State. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann sets the standard with regard to traditional Irish music and if one does not meet that standard, one has nowhere else to go. That is a bone of contention among certain people.

I do not intend to diminish the good work that is being done or deny that opportunities exist. However, the Minister stated in his initial reply that if I required further information, I should ask him for it. In the context of the various projects, I inquired as to the identities of the owners of the various properties but the Minister did not provide this information. Does Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann own these properties or is it the local organisations? He also referred to the leaseholds on various properties but he did not indicate the identity of either the lessor or the lessee. I would be grateful if the Minister could provide information in respect of these matters to me privately.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I will try to obtain the information for the Deputy.