HL Deb 18 November 2004 vol 666 cc183-4WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For each of the last five years, how many festivals have received funding in Northern Ireland for:

  1. (a) Irish cultural activity; and
  2. (b) Ulster Scots cultural activity;

And how much the funding was in each case. [HL4714]

Baroness Amos

The only body that funds festivals specifically for Irish or Ulster Scots cultural activity is the North/South Language Body, which has provided funding as follows in each of the last five years:

Year Ulster Scots Agency £Stg No. of festivals Foras na Gaeilge No of festivals
2000 1,000 1 15,000 1
2001 51,853 11 36,765 5
2002 37,500 5 52,300 14
2003 40,395 4 40,380 10
2004 30,999 8 17,000 4
Total 161,747 29 161,445 34

Other funders do not assist festivals on the basis of cultural identity, but on the merits of the festival and the extent to which each one meets the objectives of government and the relevant funding body.