Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department and the Arts Council will account for all the works of art purchased under the joint purchase scheme during the period of 1959 to 1973; if his attention has been drawn to works by such artists as Jack Yeats, which were part of the scheme, and that works bearing a similar resemblance have been offered for sale outside the jurisdiction; the action that has been taken to investigate this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12892/07]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will provide details of the purchases made in the period 1959 to 1973 under the joint purchase scheme for art operated by the Arts Council in conjunction with local authorities and local bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12894/07]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the local authorities and semi-State bodies here that availed of the joint purchase scheme operated by the Arts Council for the purchase of the art from the inception of the scheme in 1959; the number of pieces in each case; the approximate value of the joint purchase; the location of the pieces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12895/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 408, 410 and 411 together.

The Arts Council's Joint Purchase Scheme operated from the mid 1950's up until 2004. During this time approximately 200 organisations availed of the scheme and almost 1,800 works were jointly purchased. The scheme was established to raise public awareness of, and exposure to, contemporary Irish Art.

A detailed breakdown of these works is not currently available, other than the list available on the Great Southern Hotel Collection, which was compiled by the Arts Council on my instruction. These works have since been returned to the State by the Dublin Airport Authority and will reside in the Crawford Gallery in Cork.

The Arts Council is proposing to undertake a comprehensive audit of all works purchased under the Joint Purchase Scheme and to establish the current location of such works. In view of the range of organisations and number of works involved, the Art Council anticipates that this work will take some time to complete.

With regard to the sale of a Jack B. Yeats painting, purchased under the scheme, the Arts Council is satisfied that the painting was disposed of in accordance with the terms of the scheme under which it was originally purchased.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the way and when the Great Southern Hotels collection of paintings, which were saved from break up and commercial sale, will be made available for public display; the location that has been chosen for such; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter. [12893/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply on 15 February 2007. (PQ 5546/07).