Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 405: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he can provide funding from any source to maintain the Border minority group service being provided from the Market House, Main Street, Newbliss, County Monaghan, in view of the cutback in funding to the Ulster Scots group from which it in turn receives its funds; if there is a just reason that at this time funding should be cut to a group such as this when the Government is receiving increased revenue from all sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14203/04]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Ulster-Scots Agency is one of the agencies of An Foras Teanga, the North-South language body set up under the terms of the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999, the other agency being Foras na Gaeilge. I would like to clarify that there is no cutback in funding to the Ulster-Scots Agency this year.

The Ulster-Scots Agency, which is jointly funded North — 75% — and South — 25% — by the two Governments, has a total budget of €2.470 million for 2004, an increase of 2.9% over its provision for 2003. The allocation of this provision to individual projects is a matter for the agency itself, in accordance with its approved business plan.

I understand from the Ulster-Scots Agency that the border minority group to which the Deputy refers seeks to advance education and cultural awareness in the counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim and to promote tourism and awareness of the culture of the minority community in these counties. During the past two years the agency has awarded some £67,323, the current equivalent of which is €99,062, by way of grants to support such initiatives as Ulster-Scots concerts, highland dance tuition, community events, music workshops-tuition. A substantial amount, some £58,000, the current equivalent of which is €85,344, of funding was allocated to support the employment of a development officer, on condition that alternative funding sources would be found in the future.

While the agency has expressed its awareness of the excellent work carried out during the past 18 months by the incumbent of the development officer post, it has indicated that with a limited budget and an ever-increasing client base, it is not possible for it to continue to provide ongoing financial support for posts of this nature.