Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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62. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the system used in determining approvals during the assessment process of the creative arts and culture capital scheme 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11717/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Arts and Culture Capital Scheme was specifically targeted at supporting our regional arts centres with applications invited from arts and cultural centres across the country.

In total, 106 applications were received by the Department. The detailed selection criteria and eligibility requirements were published in the Guidelines of the Scheme. There was a two stage assessment process. The first stage involved all applications being reviewed on receipt to ensure eligibility. All eligible applications were then forwarded to an Assessment Panel which undertook the second stage of the assessment of the applications which advanced from stage one. The Assessment Panel reviewed each eligible application within the defined criteria and scored them accordingly. The recommendations were then forwarded to me for decision as set out in the published scheme conditions. Following these assessment processes 56 projects are being funded.

This capital scheme is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces. This kind of investment is at the centre of what I am trying to achieve through Creative Ireland and the Action Plan for Rural Development.