Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has received an application for funding in respect of a project (details supplied); when a decision will issue; if this project will be included for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35964/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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No application for capital funding has been received from this group. Funding for major capital cultural projects in my Department comes primarily from the Cultural Development subhead, which has an allocation of €7.8 million in 2011, which is a reduction by over 50% from the €16 million that was allocated in 2010. This funding is fully committed and there is no scope for any funding being provided to defray the costs of any new projects.

The Deputy will appreciate that, given the current economic situation, it is unlikely that a new capital infrastructure scheme will be announced in the near future. Any application for current funding should be submitted to the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is statutorily independent of the Minister in its funding decisions and its processes and the Minister is not the responsible authority to the Dáil on these matters. Section 24(2) of the Arts Act 2003 precludes interference by the Minister in Arts Council funding decisions.