I have created a new page covering correspondence with the Department of Community Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in January 2011. I have accordingly removed postings Ephemera 11 and Ephemera 13; the correspondence with the department is now on the new page.
I don’t know why the Irish government finds it so difficult to provide a straight answer to a straight question (well, actually, I can guess, but let’s be polite). But if funding were available, the government would be issuing press releases to beat the band, especially with an election coming up. So I deduce that there is no money, although I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find a press release or two making some vague announcement or lauding the start of some low-cost activity.
But I won’t believe in the restoration or rebuilding of the Ulster Canal until I see evidence that real money has been allocated to cover the cost.