Irish culture minister Mary Hanafin has announced that more than €1m (£871,000) will be invested in schemes using technology to promote arts and culture.

The funding has been made available as part of the Cultural Technology Grant Scheme, which was launched by Hanafin in July to support the use of new and existing technologies. A total of 25 projects are to benefit from the grants, including new mobile websites and tours of cultural tourist attractions and applications for smartphones.

Foynes Flying Boat Museum in County Limerick has secured the largest share of funding - €180,000 (£157,000) - to install a Pepper's Ghost show tracing the history of Irish coffee for flying boat passengers using 'Musion' technology. A €140,000 (£122,000) grant is set to allow Temple Bar Cultural Trust to create an interactive tour of Dublin, which is to use a new website and downloadable application.

The Irish Museum of Modern Art will create an online museum with 3D guide and avatar, as well as a mobile version of the website, with the help of a €105,000 (£91,000) grant. Hanafin said: "Ireland is already well placed as a destination for the cultural tourist and the projects being funded under this initiative will further develop and support the cultural tourism product on offer in Ireland."