Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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355. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if it is a requirement for the local authority to own the building they apply for the artist workspace scheme for; or if there is a requirement for the building to be leased for a certain period of time; whether Donegal county council have submitted an application to the scheme; if applications are still being accepted; if a list of all the local authorities that have been successful in applying for the scheme could be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50247/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The €6 million pilot Artist Workspaces Scheme was launched in June 2024. Under this scheme, local authorities are invited to propose projects which can accommodate and address the demand for artist workspaces in their regions and produce workspaces that are fit for purpose, design focused and accessible.

As set out in the guidelines to the scheme, the local authority must have legal title to the property being developed. A letter from the local authority solicitor outlining the legal status of the property to be developed and confirming that there are no legal impediments to the project promoters entering into such a legal arrangement with the Minister must be provided at application stage. Consent from the local authority as owner of the property must also be provided at application stage.

My Department has not received any application under this scheme from Donegal County Council. Limerick City and County Council are the only local authority to date that have been awarded a grant under this Scheme to date. There are a number of applications currently under assessment and I hope to make an announcement on these applications in the coming months. The scheme remains open and is accepting applications. Full details of this Scheme are available at Creative Arts: Grants and Funding (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/creative-arts-grants-and-funding/#artist-workspaces-capital-scheme).