Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide details on moneys provided under any funding scheme by any section of his Department or any State agency under his Department's aegis to any group, scheme or project in County Meath in the years 2011, and up to July 2012 under the following headings, address, amount, purpose and the funding scheme under which it was granted or awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36533/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established on 2 June 2011. It oversees and has policy responsibility for the conservation, preservation, protection, development and presentation of Ireland's heritage and culture. My Department also seeks to promote the Irish language, to support the Gaeltacht and to assist the sustainable development of island communities. Information in relation to the wide-ranging functions of my Department, as well as the programmes and schemes operated by it, can be found on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie . The attached tables set out the available information regarding funding provided by my Department and by bodies within its remit to groups, schemes and projects in County Meath.

Arts Council:

In addition, the Site Protection Unit of my Department makes compensation payments under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme to applicants throughout the country. Between 2011 and 2012 we have made 54 payments of €1,500 each to applicant from designated raised bogs that are partly in Co Meath as follows:

· Kilconny Bog in Counties Cavan/Meath, 1 Payment

· Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs in Counties Meath/Westmeath, 42 Payments

· Mount Hevey Bog in counties Meath/Westmeath, 11 Payments

In each case the payment has been made to an individual and not a group, scheme or project. The Site Protection Unit also operates the Voluntary Bog Purchase scheme. This is a scheme established to allow the Department to purchase designated bog plots from individuals. It is possible that sites may have been purchased in County Meath during 2011 and 2012 but it has not yet been possible to confirm this in the timeframe provided for answering the Deputy's Question.