Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount drawn down through his Department for the percent for arts scheme in each year since 2002 to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5969/08]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of capital projects funded by his Department in each year since 2002 to date in 2008; the number of cases in which the percent for arts grant was drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5984/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together.

Please find below information relating to the capital construction projects funded by my Department and, related to those projects, the amount spent on artworks for each year since 2002 to date in 2008. The artworks in question are primarily for our 75 Missions abroad.

In implementing the "Per Cent for Art" scheme, which is based on an amount of up to 1% of capital cost, my Department generally calculates the percentage which it spends on artwork on the basis of the total annual cost of all capital construction projects, rather than as a percentage of each individual project. On the other hand, a current example of a capital construction project where we are implementing the "Per Cent for Art" scheme on an individual project basis is the recently opened Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre on O'Connell St. There, the provision of artwork is currently being considered with a projected budget of €22,000, reflecting 1% of the capital expenditure. My Department works closely with the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Office of Public Works in this area, who provide and maintain artwork for use in Missions abroad and at Headquarters.