asked the Minister for Finance the proportion of national lottery funds which will be allocated to the total Arts and Culture area, including areas in other Government Departments such as the Irish language in 1989; and the proportion in 1988.

Arrangements for the detailed allocation of the £40 million provided in the 1989 Estimates for the distribution of the national lottery surplus are being finalised and will be announced as soon as possible.

The amount provided for arts and culture, including the Irish language in 1988 was £19.864 million or 32.3 per cent of the total.