Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the list of applications by name and location which were received for funding for festivals and cultural events in 2006 by his Department; the criteria used for assessment; the festivals and events chosen and the allocations awarded; the overall allocation made; if such allocations are on a yearly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6448/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is supporting and providing funding for this year's Beckett centenary festival, honouring Samuel Beckett on the centenary of his birth. Proposals were publicly invited from individuals or bodies planning events that might be incorporated into this one-off centenary programme. Funding may be allocated to assist qualifying applicants with their events but as the assessment process is currently in train I cannot provide names or figures at this time. The event locations are mainly around Dublin city and county but a number of initiatives have a wider geographical spread.

An organisation called "Shawfest 2006" has contacted my Department seeking support in marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of George Bernard Shaw in July of this year but has not, as yet, sought any specific sum and is not tied to any location. Officials from my Department will meet with the organisers to assess this application.

As a once-off, exceptional measure and in a cultural tourism context, I made an allocation of €250,000 to the Anna Livia festival in 2005 from funds that became available from within my Department's provision. Future support for this event will be a matter for either the Arts Council or Fáilte Ireland.

Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, a State body funded by my Department. Fáilte Ireland allocates funding to assist festivals and cultural events through its festivals and cultural events initiative. Further details on the festivals and cultural events initiative is available on the Fáilte Ireland website at www.ireland.ie. Both the Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland are independent of my Department in regard to their day-to-day operational matters.