§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding was provided for the promotion of(a) Irish culture and (b) Ulster-Scots culture in each year since 1998. [122639]
§ Angela SmithThe Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure funds the Ulster Scots Agency, which has a statutory remit to promote Ulster-Scots language aid Culture. Total funding provided for the promotion of Ulster-Scots culture by the Agency since its formation is as follows:
£ 2000 38,020.40 2001 369,002.35 2002 331,254.71 2003 to date 133,396.73 The Department has also funded some projects with an Irish or Ulster-Scots cultural dimension which cannot be separated out from the primary funding objective.
856WThe Arts Council supports arts projects carried out through the medium of Irish and Ulster Scots but does not promote either culture.
Funding for arts projects carried out through the medium of Irish and Ulster -Scots is detailed below: