Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae is seeking an urgent meeting with the government before Tuesday's budget to rescue exchequer funding for a planned cultural centre in his Kerry South constituency.

Promoters of the Guggenheim-style centre in Kenmare were notified last Thursday that their application for a €6m grant under the National Development Plan tourism capital investment programme will not be considered. Tourism minister Martin Cullen has issued a directive putting all projects where contractual agreements have not yet been reached on hold.

The news has the potential to cause serious embarrassment to government backer Healy-Rae in his constituency where nearly €1.5m has already been pledged for the project by local business people. Two of his sons, Michael and Danny, are councillors in Kerry South and Michael had been one of the most vocal supporters of the €12m centre.