Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the European Union media programme for the European audio visual industry, the number of projects that are running here. [21413/12]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the European Union's culture and support programme for organisations working in the field of culture, the number of projects running here. [21414/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.

At present, there are two EU programmes operating in the culture and audio-visual areas for which I have responsibility:

1. The Media Programme is the EU support programme for the European audiovisual industry. In Ireland, information on this Programme is available from Media Desk www.mediadeskireland.ie, which provides details on the operation of the Programme, successful projects and funding available at any given time.

2. The Culture Programme is the EU support programme for organisations working in the field of culture. In Ireland, information on this Programme is available from the Cultural Contact Point at www.ccp.ie, which provides comprehensive information on the operation of the Programme.

Periodically, there are calls from the European Commission seeking applications for financial support under the Programmes. The applications are then assessed by an independent body based in Brussels, the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA). The decisions on what support is provided are based on the merits of the applications. There is no quota for each country or no amount allocated to each country.

Information is available on these two Programmes at the websites I have referred to. Assistance with applications is also given, as is assistance with identifying funding partners, where relevant. Any Irish organisation wishing to apply for funding from either programme should make initial contact with the relevant office. The two Programmes will continue until the end of 2013.