James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason the application by Longford County Council for funding for the construction of a new museum for County Longford under the arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme access 11 was refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19219/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Some 155 applications were received seeking funding of over €200m under the recently completed round of the Arts & Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS II). This demand greatly exceeded the total funding of €32m available for disbursement under this round of the scheme. An independent Selection Committee, appointed to evaluate all the applications received, made funding recommendations based on the criteria set out when the scheme was announced.

The standard of the proposals received was high and, while funding has been offered to 62 organisations, aimed at developing the arts and culture infrastructure around the country over the years 2007 to 2009, the Deputy will appreciate that difficult decisions had to be made and it was not possible to provide funding immediately to many very worthwhile projects, including this one. All deferred applications will be retained on file, however, and will be considered further should additional funding become available, subject to them meeting the scheme criteria.