Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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23. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the role that drama and Irish language played in the lives of many of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamations if she will consider the reconstruction of Amharclann Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal as a project worth support. [31210/14]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I would like to state at the outset that I appreciate very much the role that the Irish language played in the lives of many of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation. Given the symbolism of the Irish language in 1916, the Deputy may wish to note that is envisaged that a programme of Irish language events will be developed, within available resources, in the context of the commemoration of the Easter Rising in 2016. With regard to Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair, funding of €30,000 was approved in December 2011 to assist the committee to carry out certain remedial works on the building, including improvements to the roof as well as repairs to the heating and electrical systems. I understand that Donegal County Council provided a further €20,000 towards these improvement works.

My Department understands that further substantial funding is required to bring the building to a standard that would allow professional productions to be performed there and, in this regard, that the committee is examining various options at the moment with regard to further financial support.

While I appreciate very much that Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair has an illustrious history of Irish language theatrical productions, the funding available to my Department for Gaeltacht projects of this nature is extremely limited and has to be apportioned among various competing priorities.