Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 607: To ask the Minister for Defence 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. [5979/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces both Permanent and Reserve. The programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings. The number of Capital Projects (over €500,000) funded each year since 2002 is as follows:

The Per Cent for Art Scheme is a scheme approved by Government that allows Government Departments and public bodies (to spend up to 1% of the budget for each their capital construction projects on "Public Art", subject to certain limits and conditions). In discharging its responsibility under the Per Cent for Arts Scheme, my Department has commissioned the artist Brian King to design A National Memorial to Members of the Defence Forces who died in Service. I expect it will be completed in June 2008. The Memorial will be located in Merrion Square in Dublin. The overall cost of this will be in excess of €250,000.

My Department has also contributed funding under the Per Cent for Art Scheme for the design and erection of a memorial plaque in Sligo town to commemorate local Defence Forces Personnel who were peacekeepers in the Lebanon, the project is just recently completed and is due to be unveiled in the coming weeks. The project has been undertaken in collaboration with Sligo County Council and the military authorities.

The Deputy will appreciate the limited scope my Department has to provide "Public Art" given that access to military installations is normally restricted for security reasons. That said, my Department will continue to discharge its responsibilities under the scheme and actively seeks to identify suitable projects which will benefit both the public and the artists engaged to produce them within the provisions of the scheme.